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But this doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be refused cover. Instead, insurers will assess your individual circumstances, and may ask questions about your general health, lifestyle, and any other conditions that may be linked to your weight.
Why is obesity a factor in life insurance?
Obesity is linked to a higher risk of developing several serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. For this reason, insurers may consider applicants with a high body mass index (BMI) to be at greater risk of a claim.
However, insurers also understand that everyone’s situation is different. They won’t just look at your BMI: they’ll usually consider your overall health, whether you have any related conditions, and whether your weight has changed over time.
How do insurers assess obesity-related risk?
When you apply for life insurance, you’ll usually be asked for your height and weight. These figures are used to calculate your BMI, a measure that helps assess whether your weight is within a healthy range.
Insurers may then ask:
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with any weight-related health conditions, e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea.
If you’ve had treatment or surgery for obesity, e.g. gastric band or bypass.
Whether your weight has changed significantly in recent years.
Whether you’re under the care of a GP or specialist.
Insurers may request a report from your GP to better understand your condition, or ask you to attend a medical examination.
How do insurers respond to obesity?
When looking at an application for life insurance, the insurer’s decision will depend on your BMI and whether you have any related health conditions:
Mild to moderately overweight, with no other risk factors, may result in standard terms or a modest increase in premiums.
Obesity may lead to a higher premium.
Extreme obesity, particularly with complications like heart problems or diabetes, could lead to higher premiums, a decline or policy exclusions.
Each insurer uses their own thresholds, so one company might offer more favourable terms than another, even with the same information.
What exclusions might apply?
Insurers don’t tend to include specific obesity exclusions in policy terms, but exclusions may be added for related conditions (e.g. diabetes or cardiovascular disease) if these are also present. You’re more likely to see exclusions in critical illness or income protection policies.
Always review your policy documents carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered.
The importance of full disclosure
Even if your weight has never caused health issues, it’s important to be honest about your height and weight when applying for life insurance. Insurers may request a GP report, and discrepancies between your application and medical records could cause a claim to be denied later.
Being open and accurate during the application process is the best way to make sure your cover is reliable when your family needs it most.