Number of years lived with obesity associated with risk of mortality

January 01, 0001

Number of years lived with obesity associated with risk of mortality

The role of the duration of obesity as an independent risk factor for mortality has not been investigated. The aim of this study by researchers from Australia, Denmark and Indonesia was to analyse the association between the duration of obesity and the risk of mortality. A total of 5036 participants (aged 28-62 years) of the Framingham Cohort Study were followed up every 2 years from 1948 for up to 48 years.

The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for mortality increased as the number of years lived with obesity increased. For those who were obese for 1-4.9, 5-14.9, 15-24.9 and greater than or equal to 25 years of the study follow-up period, adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.51 1.94, 2.25 and 2.52, respectively, compared with those who were never obese. A dose-response relation between years of duration of obesity was also clear for all-cause, cardiovascular, cancer and other- cause mortality. For every additional 2 years of obesity, the HRs for all-cause, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other-cause mortality were 1.06, 1.07, 1.03 and 1.07, respectively.

The researchers concluded: "The number of years lived with obesity is directly associated with the risk of mortality. This needs to be taken into account when estimating its burden on mortality."

Interesting. I believed weight gain in middle-age was worse.


For the full abstract, click here.

Int J Epidemiol 40(4):985-996, April 2011 © 2011  International Epidemiological Association
The number of years lived with obesity and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Asnawi Abdullah, Rory Wolfe, Johannes U Stoelwinder et al. Correspondence to: Asnawi Abdullah: [email protected]

Category: T. Endocrine/Metabolic/Nutritional. Keywords: obesity,duration, body mass index, mortality, all cause mortality, cause specific mortality, cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 30 September 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

COVID-19 Resources

WONCA webinars, journal links and more

WONCA position statements

WONCA statements on a variety of issues

PEARLS

577 Individual behavioural counselling helps people to quit smoking 575 Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements may be beneficial in age-related macular degeneration 574 Oral antifungals effective for toenail onychomycosis 570 Decision aids beneficial for people facing health treatment or screening decisions 569 Computer-generated reminders on paper benefit quality of care