Obesity and overweight caused an estimated 400,000 U.S. deaths per year, second only to cigarette smoking. [129] A person with a BMI above 30 has a 50%-100% higher risk of mortality than one with a BMI between 20 and 25. [130]
Excess weight may account for 14% of all cancer deaths in men and 20% in women and contribute to cancers of the breast and uterus, colon and rectum, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder. [131]
The risk of heart failure increases by 5%-7% for every incremental increase of BMI above 25. [132]
The relative risk of diabetes increases by approximately 25% for each additional unit of BMI over 22. [133] An estimated 16 million adults have pre-diabetes, a condition for which most will eventually develop diabetes within 10 years, and 17 million adults have diabetes. [134] A diabetic patient incurs $13,250 per year in health care costs compared with $2,500 per year for a nondiabetic. [135] Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading cause of chronic kidney disease.
Overweight and obesity in a population of 1 million people between the ages of 35 and 84 account for 133,000 cases of hypertension, 58,000 cases of diabetes, and 51,500 cases of high cholesterol. [136]
Source: Sources are found in the relevant endnotes.
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