Loneliness Is Deadly, Scientists

Being lonely carries the same risk of mortality as obesity does, new new study warns.

According to Daily Mail the study is worrying as more Americans today live alone than they ever did. Living alone, and social isolation, the feeling of loneliness despite being amidst people, carries the same risk of death as obesity in younger people. The study based its conclusions on findings of numerous other studies, which involved nearly three million participants.

Reporting the study's findings, CBS News pointed a 32 percent increased risk of death for those who reported living alone. Researchers have suggested that the study's findings are alarming and it is time that loneliness was addressed as a public health concern.

"The effect of this is comparable to obesity something that public health takes very seriously. We need to start taking our social relationships more seriously," said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, the study's lead author in a news release.

"Not only are we at the highest recorded rate of living alone across the entire century, but we're at the highest recorded rates ever on the planet. With loneliness on the rise, we are predicting a possible loneliness epidemic in the future," said co-author Tim Smith, co-author.

Previous research by the team found that loneliness carries as much risk of death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and being an alcoholic.

While the present study's authors suggest that the internet can help ward off loneliness, they say it may not be fulfilling emotionally.