Fitness or Fatness

Abstract

Three decades ago, the relative importance of the detrimental effects of obesity on health was called into question by a longitudinal study 1 that included 10 224 men and 3120 women who were followed up for more than 8 years. The findings showed that better cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as measured by a maximal treadmill exercise test, was associated with decreased all-cause mortality in both sexes. Based on the maximal treadmill tests, participants were stratified into quintiles of fitness categories, with 1 equaling the lowest level of fitness and 5 being the highest level of fitness. Analysis of lifestyle behaviors and clinical measures, such as blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), found that for both men and women, all variables, except BMI and familial coronary heart disease (CHD) only for women, VIEWPOINT

Data Talks: Obesity-Related Influences on US Mortality Rates

“…The 1999 and 2016 values were 5.93 (95% CI, 5.78–6.08) and 16.2 (95% CI, 15.98–16.42) for males, and 5.92 (95% CI, 5.78–6.06) and 12.84 (95% CI, 12.66–13.03) for females, respectively. Such contrasting gender-related divergences agree with current investigative clinical-research data, that show that men are more likely to accumulate visceral fat that is associated with major negative impacts on human health (Després et al, 2001; Flegal et al, 2007; Kennedy et al, 2018; Klatsky et al, 2017; Poulain et al, 2008; Wahba et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2007; Wyatt et al, 2006). …”

“…Also, in around 2005, the age-adjusted obesity-related mortality rates for White men began to trend above the national average. Such a movement could epitomize previously recorded White gender-differentiated cultural norms (Abarca-Gómez et al, 2017; Cutler et al, 2003; Keller et al, 2018; Probst et al, 2004; Wyatt et al, 2006) and their psychological well-being perceptions with regards to weight (Guarneri, 2017; Jin et al, 2016; Kennedy et al, 2018; Klatsky et al, 2017; Wang et al, 2007). …”

“…Additionally, the 1999–2016 mortality rates for Black or African-American females is undeniably higher and is possibly parallel to existing cultural and/or economic benchmarks (Abarca-Gómez et al, 2017; Cutler et al, 2003; D’Souza et al, 2015; Kennedy et al, 2018; Klatzky et al, 2017; Wang et al, 2007), and the current dysfunction with access to healthcare resources (Chang et al, 2017; Jin & Yu, 2016; Keller et al, 2018; Preston et al, 2018; Rosenthal et al, 2017; Wyatt et al, 2006). Nonetheless, the 1999 to 2016 overweight and obesity-influenced mortality rate for Black or African-American females largely increased by 72.83%, which pales in comparison to the exponential 165.34% increase in the corresponding age-adjusted mortality rates containing ICD-10 overweight and obesity diagnostic codes, for Black or African-American males.…”

“…However, the 35–44 age-group did experience the highest 1999–2016 crude death rate increase (174.93%). The rises in ICD-10 coded deaths among the “middle and above” age groups are clearly being driven by declining health conditions associated with the burdens of being overweight and obese (Abarca-Gómez et al, 2017; Chang et al, 2017; Cutler et al, 2003; Després et al, 2001; Flegal et al, 2007; Jin & Yu, 2016; Kennedy et al, 2018; Klatzy et al, 2017; Poulain et al, 2008; Wahba et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2007; Wyatt et al, 2006). …”

“…Body-mass index (BMI) assessments are shown to be both, consequential (Klatsky et al, 2017; Preston et al, 2018), and as being less important (Chang et al, 2017; Kennedy et al, 2018). However, several extensive investigations have made clear that obesity does lead to persistent, long-standing, non-communicable health conditions that require sustained medical interventions (Després et al, 2001; Katz et al, 2000; Poulain et al, 2008; Wahba et al, 2007).…”