Body mass index in early and mid-adulthood, and subsequent mortality: a historical cohort study

Abstract

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between body mass index (BMI) in early and midadulthood, and BMI change between these ages, and mortality. 3.0 kg/m 2 ) in mid-adulthood. All-cause mortality was associated with being overweight (BMIZ25 kg/m 2 ) at age 22 but not at age 38, adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-3.13) and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.73-1.52), respectively. BMI at age 22 y was more strongly associated with CVD mortality than was BMI at age 38 y, adjusted HR 22 y : 2.41 (95% CI: 1.26-4.60) and HR 38 y : 1.33 (95% CI: 0.82-2.16). There was no clear relationship between cancer mortality and BMI at either age: HR 22 y : 0.68 (95% CI: 0.16-2.91), HR 38 y : 0.90 (95% CI: 0.44-1.84), although relatively few men died of cancer in the follow-up period. Similar patterns were seen for obesity (BMIZ30 kg/m 2 ) as for being overweight. Analyses of weight patterns indicated particularly detrimental effects of overweight persisting from early to mid-adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: BMI in early adulthood is positively related to CVD mortality in later life in men. The risk associated with early adulthood adiposity appeared to be greater than that in mid-adulthood. We did not demonstrate an association between weight gain and later mortality. These results reinforce the need to stem the obesity epidemic in children and young adults.

Female gender and wealth are associated to overweight among adolescents in La Paz, Bolivia

“…Since the 'type of school' was not significantly associated (P40.05) to the nutritional status of this sample of adolescents (Table 3) after controlling for the effects of the other variables, it is not likely that this could be a source of bias in the results that have been presented. Adolescent BMI predicts cardiovascular risk in later life (Raman, 2002;Jeffreys et al, 2003;Oren et al, 2003). Even more, overweight in adolescence has been suggested as a more powerful predictor of morbidity risks than overweight in adulthood (Must et al, 1992;Dietz, 2004).…”

Early dietary intervention: long-term effects on blood pressure, brain neuropeptide Y, and adiposity markers

“…Studies have shown that children who have higher body mass are more likely to become obese adults and are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disturbances (21,28). Childhood obesity is already at epidemic proportions in some countries and on the rise in others (53).…”

The definition of weight maintenance

“…The majority (23) defined weight maintenance using absolute weight change as the metric although several used percent baseline weight. 21,22,27,33,35,36,38,49,50 The metrics percent BMI, 18 absolute BMI unit change 28 and weight change per All are cohort studies, except Crawford 2000, which was a weight gain prevention intervention. The majority of the studies in Table 2 were observational, but the Pound of Prevention Study tested an intervention to promote weight maintenance.…”