Obesity may increase your risk of premature death, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers examined data from 16,868 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination and the National Death Index. Obesity caused a 20 percent increased risk of dying 1.6 years earlier from all causes of death and 1.6 to 5 years earlier from cardiovascular disease, compared with normal weight participants. This study highlights the impact the obesity epidemic may have on the current and future U.S. population.

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Borrell LN, Samuel L. Body mass index categories and mortality risk in U.S. adults: the effect of overweight and obesity on advancing death. Am J Public Health. Published online January 16, 2014.