Obesity 'can affect life insurance premiums'

People who are or become obese may find themselves paying higher life insurance premiums, according to an industry body.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has said that as a lifestyle factor that can affect health, obese people can expect to pay more than healthier people.

Jonathan French, spokesperson for the ABI, said that lifestyle factors affect life insurance premiums because they can affect a person’s likelihood of making a claim.

He said: "If you are obese there is a higher risk of other health problems resulting from that, and therefore the risk of a claim is going to be higher and insurers will price their policy accordingly."

The 50 per cent of UK adults who are classed as overweight or obese have a higher chance of heart disease, strokes and type-2 diabetes.

However, Mr French said that while premiums might increase, the pay out from the policy is determined and assured from the start.

The sum could be the same throughout the duration of the policy – in a level term policy – or more commonly, could decrease as time goes by with a decreasing term assurance which is often linked with the outstanding balance on a mortgage.