With just a few weeks left in the calendar, many of us are looking to the new year to make life changes and resolutions.

The most common resolution is to losing weight (getting fit and eating healthier foods are numbers 7 and 8 on the list, respectively). This as a new report by United Health Foundation found that the obesity rate ballooned to 29.5% last year - up from 27.5% a year before. Nearly a quarter of the people surveyed said they hadn’t done any exercise in the last 30 days.

As such, it seems particularly timely that McGill University Health Centre released a study finding that obese individuals have the potential to decrease life expectancy by up to 8 years. In a world where all of us complain that life is passing by too quickly, cutting 8 years from the end of our life is massive. It’s nearly 3,000 days. More than 70,000 hours. I don’t have 8 extra years to spare. Do you?

According Dr. Steven Grover, the study’s lead author:

The pattern is clear - the more an individual weighs and the younger their age, the greater the effect on their health. In terms of life-expectancy, we feel being overweight is as bad as cigarette smoking.

Moreover, the study found that obese individuals can develop diabetes or cardiovascular disease earlier in life; the excess weight can rob obese individuals of nearly two decades of healthy life. It’s an alarming statistic.

Though it’s often used as such, I don’t like using fear as a motivator. Sure, it’s effective. But it’s also negative.

Rather than being motivated to lose weight, eat healthier and move more by a fear of dying, I’d encourage everyone - regardless of their shape or size - to exercise because they love life. The flip side of this study is that fit people live longer, healthier, more productive lives. And that’s a beautiful thing.

Whatever motivates you, get started. The near year holiday is just around the corner - and today is the perfect day to get a jump start on your resolution.

P.S. To ensure success as you shed excess fat, download Davey Wavey’s Weight Loss Program. From nutrition and exercise to rebuilding a healthier relationship with your body, this comprehensive program was developed with a team of experts - myself included. Use discount code “youtube” to save 25% during checkout. You’ll also receive 3, 15-minute workout videos as a free gift.