An increasing segment of the population is obese. It has become a health epidemic. Unfortunately, not only does obesity lead to a lower life expectancy, 72 compared to 82 years, but being obese could also affect end of life care. According to new research obese people are more likely to spend the final stages of their lives at home rather than in a nursing home or hospice care. Although the reasons as of now are unclear, some scientists believe that obese people are stigmatized when it comes to medical treatment. This is partially because the obesity causes patients to look a little healthier making it more difficult to recognize they are dying. More likely though the reason is that caring for obese people, especially the extremely obese, is more difficult and might require more people and special equipment.
Key Points:
- 1This study suggests that carrying a great deal of extra weight also may affect the way a person dies.
- 2It’s not yet clear why the difference exists or exactly what it means for the quality of life for obese people in the final stages of their lives.
- 3In the new study, the 117 severely obese patients died earlier, at an average age of 72.
Obese people are less likely to spend their last days in hospice care and more likely to die at home, the new research found.
Read the full article at: https://medlineplus.gov/news/fullstory_163434.html
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