7 Other Secrets to Living Younger

You've heard it all before: Don't smoke, get fat, drink to excess, or skip breakfast. But how much do these health habits really factor in? Well, actually, quite a lot. In terms of healthcare costs, new research shows that medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for an obese person than for someone at a healthy weight, according to a study published today in the journal Health Affairs. As obesity rates continue to increase, so do many of the chronic conditions that go along with obesity: heart disease, diabetes, cancer. These conditions age us more rapidly and shorten lives.