Four or more illnesses at once
- Published in
- Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022
- People studied
- 114,657
In 114,657 adults followed for about 12 years, obesity went with about 12 times the risk of developing four or more diseases, compared with a healthy weight.
- Checked against
- PubMed 35248171
- Published in
- Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
This study followed 114,657 adults in Finland for about 12 years and checked the results in almost 500,000 adults in the UK Biobank. Obesity was linked with 21 diseases, including heart, digestive, breathing, nerve, joint and infectious diseases. Compared with a healthy weight, people with obesity had about 3 times the risk of one of these diseases and about 12 times the risk of four or more. By age 55, they had reached the level of multiple illness that people with a healthy weight reached by 75.
At a glance
- Type of study
- long-term study of several large population groups
- People studied
- 114,657
- How long
- about 12 years on average
- Compared with
- people with a healthy weight
- Main result
- Obesity went with about 12 times the risk of four or more diseases.
- Strength of evidence
- Long-term or observational studies
What this study does not show
An observational study: it shows an association, not proof that weight caused the diseases. The results were adjusted for known factors, but others may still play a part.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on why
- Genes explain much of the difference in BMILong-term or observational studies · Stunkard et al., NEJM 1990
- Years of lifeLong-term or observational studies · Prospective Studies Collaboration, Lancet 2009
- Heart failure riskLong-term or observational studies · Kenchaiah et al., NEJM 2002
- Fatty liverLong-term or observational studies · Quek et al., Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023
- The body burns less after weight lossSmall or uncontrolled studies · Leibel et al., NEJM 1995
- Four or more illnesses at onceLong-term or observational studies · Kivimäki et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022
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