For the elderly, loneliness is twice as unhealthy as obesity and is a major health concern for senior citizens.

According to the Guardian, the research points to a trend in which the aging population is living alone more often as well as father away from their families. Feelings of loneliness and isolation were especially hard on the seniors tracked over a six-year period for the study.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found the loneliest of the 2,000 people aged 50 and older they monitored for the study were twice as likely to die during the study's duration. Compared to an average person, loneliness caused a 14 percent higher risk of death and adding poverty to the mix raised the rate to 19 percent.

Those figures represent about twice the risk posed by obesity.

"We are experiencing a silver tsunami demographically. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age. Each day between 2011 and 2030, an average of 10,000 people will turn 65," lead researcher John Cacioppo, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, said in a press release. "People have to think about how to protect themselves from depression, low subjective well-being and early mortality."

Previous work has also linked loneliness to other health problems like high blood pressure, weak immune systems, depression, heart attacks and strokes. Cacioppo also equated loneliness to physical pain in his book "Loneliness," released Aug. 2009.

Retirees commonly move to warmer climates if they do not already live in one to avoid all the complications brought on by winter weather. However, if it means being isolated from family, no more winters may actually be more harmful to a retiree's health.

"Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn't necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean the most to you," said Cacioppo.

He said the population is reaching a time when the baby boomers are finished growing up and are beyond graying. It will be increasingly important for families will need to consider loneliness and isolation when planning on how to care for an elderly family member.

"We are experiencing a silver tsunami demographically. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age. Each day between 2011 and 2030, an average of 10,000 people will turn 65," Cacioppo said in the release. "People have to think about how to protect themselves from depression, low subjective well-being and early mortality."