Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

18 Feb, 2014

Loneliness twice as unhealthy as obesity for older people, study finds | theguardian.com

Loneliness can be twice as unhealthy as obesity, according to researchers who found that feelings of isolation can have a devastating impact on older people.

The scientists tracked more than 2,000 people aged 50 and over and found that the loneliest were nearly twice as likely to die during the six-year study than the least lonely.

Compared with the average person in the study, those who reported being lonely had a 14% greater risk of dying. The figure means that loneliness has around twice the impact on an early death as obesity. Poverty increased the risk of an early death by 19%.

Read the rest: Loneliness twice as unhealthy as obesity for older people, study finds | Science | theguardian.com.