Loneliness vs Obesity: Which is More Deadly?

As reported by the NZ Herald, people who experience being alone and isolated are almost 15 percent more likely to die.

According to a study made by the University of Chicago, being cut off from other people weakens our ability to fight off viruses as well as pushes the blood pressure into the danger zone of heart attacks and strokes.

They tested both men and women over 50 years old, and the results showed that an immune system gene called CTRA, becomes more active when a person is lonely. According to the article, loneliness does not only lead to more active CTRA genes, as having more active CTRA genes to begin with, also increases the odds of being lonely in the months to come.

The study is published in a journal called "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." The study also mentioned that loneliness causes people to lack in sleep, and therefore to consequently depend on sleeping pills.

Loneliness also leads to depression, which then leads to suicide attempts. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide claims more lives than war and natural disasters combined. According to their report, a person dies by suicide every 12.8 minutes in the United States alone.

As for obesity, according to the World Health Organization, the worldwide obesity count has doubled since 1980. According to them, most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity in people kills more than being underweight or malnourished. Childhood obesity is also associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. Obese children also experience breathing difficulties, an increased risk of fractures, hypertension, the early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and other psychological effects.

People need to have a better lifestyle to avoid these problems. Eating healthy and exercising are things that could be done for one to feel happier and to prevent health-related problems. It is a proven fact that exercising releases endorphines which makes us happier.