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Two Common Health Problems May More Than Double Death Risk After 50
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Two conditions that affect millions of older adults—carrying extra weight around the belly and having low vitamin D scores—sharply raise the risk of dying when they occur together, a new study of more than 5,500 people over 50 has found.
People over 50 who had both abdominal obesity and vitamin D deficiency were 123 percent more likely to die during the study period than those with neither condition, the research, now published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism , found.
Each condition on its own was already known to be dangerous. Vitamin D deficiency alone, defined as blood levels below 30 nanomoles per liter, raised the risk of death by up to 91 percent. Abdominal obesity by itself, measured as a waist circumference above around 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women, increased the risk by 47 percent. But when both were present, the risks multiplied.
Newsweek reached out to the study's lead coordinator, Tiago Silva Alexandre, a professor at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil, via email for comment.
Researchers from UFSCar worked with University College London (UCL) and drew their data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, one of the largest long-term studies of aging in the world. The team tracked 5,520 adults aged 50 and older over six years. The work was funded by FAPESP, a Brazilian research foundation.
The study points to a biological link between the two conditions, not just a mere coincidence. People with obesity are known to produce lower levels of the enzymes needed to process vitamin D, meaning excess body fat can leave less of the hormone circulating and available for the body to use.
That drop in vitamin D then makes things worse because vitamin D deficiency weakens the immune system, allowing the chronic, low-grade inflammation already caused by excess abdominal fat to build further. The result is a steep rise in the risk of disease and death.
Researchers also point to "inflammaging," a term used to describe the mild, persistent inflammation that comes naturally with older age. When that process combines with the added inflammation from abdominal fat and low vitamin D levels, the effect on one's health is significantly compounded.
Alexandre, a professor at UFSCar's Department of Gerontology, said the findings highlight how the two conditions interact rather than simply existing side-by-side.
"Abdominal obesity is a well-known risk factor because it's associated with inflammation and metabolic problems," he said in a statement. "Vitamin D, on the other hand, is a hormone that acts on various organs, and its deficiency impairs several bodily functions. When these two conditions occur together, one amplifies the effects of the other, further increasing the risk of death."
"Monitoring vitamin D levels and treating excess abdominal fat are essential measures to prevent premature death, especially after age 50," Alexandre said.
The study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that simple, measurable markers such as a waist tape measure and a blood test could help identify people at the highest risk of early death. The researchers say regular screening for both conditions, paired with treatment where needed, could be an important tool for extending healthy lifespan in older adults.
Alexandre, T. D. S., et al. (2026). Does the Combination of Abdominal Obesity and Vitamin D Deficiency Increase the Risk of Death in Individuals Aged 50 or Older? Evidence From the ELSA Study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism . https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.70839.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Kara Dolman and Sam Wilson .
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