An unexpected factor has been identified that seriously increases the risk of death in obese people

“Today, dietary and lifestyle factors are key to preventing obesity-related diseases,” said Dr. Lu Qi, lead author of the study published Monday in JAMA Network Open.

“Our study highlights the importance of considering social and mental health when improving the health of people with obesity,” said Dr. Qi, professor and interim chair of epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans.

The study analyzed data from almost 400,000 people from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource that follows people over the long term.

Those included in the study did not have cardiovascular disease at the start of data collection. The researchers then conducted follow-up between March 2006 and November 2021, according to the study.

The data showed that during this time, all causes of death for people classified as obese were 36% lower in people who felt less lonely and socially isolated.

“Now is the time to integrate social and psychological factors with other dietary and lifestyle factors when developing intervention strategies to prevent obesity-related complications,” emphasizes Dr. Qi.

According to the study, social isolation was found to be a stronger risk factor for all causes of death, including cancer and cardiovascular disease, than depression, anxiety and lifestyle risk factors that included alcohol, exercise and diet, CNN reported.

These results are not surprising, said Dr. Philip Scherer, professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. But the findings point to overcoming “social isolation as a potential means to reduce mortality,” he said.

Although sometimes not talked about as often as diet or exercise, loneliness is increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for poor health.

According to a June 2023 study, people who felt socially isolated were 32% more likely to die early than those who did not, CNN notes.

“We can all feel lonely from time to time, but when that feeling becomes persistent, it can act as a form of chronic stress, which is unhealthy,” says Turhan Canli, professor of integrative neuroscience in the department of psychology at New York University Stony Brook.

“One way this can happen is through stress hormones, which negatively affect the body,” emphasizes Canley, who was not involved in the latest study.

Canley adds that the link between loneliness and poor health outcomes may also be due to the reduced likelihood of socially isolated people receiving health care or a correlation with other unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol.

“Think of maintaining social connections like any other health-promoting activity: exercise regularly, eat healthy, take care of yourself,” Canley said.

Having so many options to connect to a large online network doesn’t always mean we’ll be less lonely, says Rachel Benjamin, a licensed clinical social worker in New York City. “We as humans need to feel known by other people in order to feel seen—to feel like we exist in this world,” she said.

And even if someone interacts with others a lot, it’s easy to feel lonely and isolated if that person doesn’t feel integrated into their community, Benjamin adds. And fatphobia can make it harder for obese people to feel understood and accepted, she said.

Eliminating bias against them is not something one person can change. But there are steps you can take to try to build better relationships, Benjamin emphasizes.

What is a quality relationship? These are the ones where you can be yourself without the pressure of pretending to be someone you’re not, she added.

“Two people can feel like they’re both heard and seen and accepted, and they can play around a little,” says Rachel Benjamin. “And also to feel respected by both people and be honest about how they feel.”

To achieve this, she first recommends starting by looking within yourself. Are there ways in which you isolate yourself as a source of protection or habit? Then it’s time to start developing a new habit: making yourself available to interact with people on a regular basis.

“It might be awkward, but maybe I want to be bolder, I want to take risks,” says Benjamin. Lastly, don’t worry if it takes a while for a strong relationship to form. Quality connections take time, she added. “It just takes time, work and effort,” states the social worker.