Study links Overweight and obesity to increased mortality in white adults
Body-mass index (BMI) is the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters.
For over a significant period of time, increased BMI has been associated with a person’s risk to develop cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancers.
It has also been associated with increased mortality from these conditions. However the exact nature of the relationship between BMI and mortality has not been completely established.
Subjects & Method
A large studies carried out on 1.46 million white adults all belonging to the age group 19 to 84 years of age with a median age of the subjects was 58 yrs looked at the BMI and its relationship to mortality.
Details related to age, study, physical activity, education, alcohol consumption, and marital status was drawn from pooled data sourced from 19 prospective studies carried out for a span of ten years.
Cox regression was the method of choice to appraise the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for a link between BMI and all-cause mortality.
Result
During the 10 year follow-up period a total of 160,087 deaths were identified and the following values were arrived at -
| BMI | HAZARD RATIO |
| 18.5 to 19.9 | 1.14 |
| 20.0 to 22.4 | 1.00 |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | 1.13 |
| 30.0 to 34.9 | 1.44 |
| 35.0 to 39.9 | 1.88 |
| 40.0 to 49.9 | 2.51 |
• BMI of 22.5 to 24.9 was the reference category - in this group the hazard ratio among women was 1.47.
• The Median baseline BMI in this group was 26.2.
• For a BMI below 20.0 it was discovered that the health hazard ratio reduced with longer-term follow-up.
• Hazard ratios for men and women studied were similar
Study Conclusions
• Overweight and obesity are linked to increased all-cause mortality in white adults
• All-cause mortality is the lowest in those with a BMI between 20.0 to 24.9.
Although the inference drawn from this study is not novel, it helps to re-establish the fact that obesity, which is totally integrated with modern-day existence, must be addressed on a war-time footing.
Otherwise, we may have to pay with our lives!
Reference:
N Engl J Med 2010; 363:2211-2219 December 2, 2010.
Obesity - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment
Obesity is a condition where there is excess accumulation of body fat which poses a risk to the health of the individual. It can affect children and adults.
Obesity is a condition where there is excess accumulation of body fat which poses a risk to the health of the individual. It can affect children and adults.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple tool that is generally used to estimate the total amount of body fat.
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple tool that is generally used to estimate the total amount of body fat.
Ideal Body Weight
Calculate the ideal body weight for adults easily with Medindia’s Ideal Body Weight Calculator.
Calculate the ideal body weight for adults easily with Medindia’s Ideal Body Weight Calculator.
