Secular Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors According to Body Mass Index in US Adults

Increased susceptibility to oxidative damage in post-diabetic human myotubes

“…Among adults diagnosed with diabetes, 57% are obese and 28% are overweight [2]. Conversely, only 14% of obese adults have diabetes [3]. Thus while obesity is a well-recognised risk factor for type 2 diabetes, the relatively small percentage of obese individuals who also develop type 2 diabetes is consistent with the general knowledge that type 2 diabetes has a strong genetic component.…”

Trends in the association between blood pressure and obesity in a Taiwanese population between 1996 and 2006

“…Our findings on the lower average DBP in 2006 than in 1996 and its relation with obesity are intriguing, although other recent studies also showed similar findings. [17][18][19] Our study suggests that the increased prevalence of obesity may not have direct impact on DBP, as systolic and DBP may be controlled by different mechanisms and other factors may also have a role in the control of BP. For instance, although education levels, betel nut chewing, smoking and drinking were adjusted for in our analysis, the information about the changes in nutrition and dietary patterns in Taiwanese population between 1996/1998 and 2006 is not available for detailed analysis.…”

“…[14][15][16] For instance, one study on secular trends in cardiovascular disease risk factors in US adults found that the prevalence of obesity (body mass index (BMI)X30) has increased in recent decades; however, although the prevalence of diabetes has also increased, cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure (BP) level, have declined considerably. 17 The interpretation of such mixed findings is not straightforward, as there are changes in other deleterious and beneficial factors, such as smoking, consumption of fruits and vegetables and prescription medicines. 17 Similar trends in cardiovascular risk factors have been found elsewhere: one study of students attending Glasgow University, UK, found that average BP decreased across generations born between preand post-World War II.…”

“…17 The interpretation of such mixed findings is not straightforward, as there are changes in other deleterious and beneficial factors, such as smoking, consumption of fruits and vegetables and prescription medicines. 17 Similar trends in cardiovascular risk factors have been found elsewhere: one study of students attending Glasgow University, UK, found that average BP decreased across generations born between preand post-World War II. 18 Another study showed a decreased magnitude of association between BP and BMI in a survey undertaken in 1989 and 2005 in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing country in Africa, 19 whereas the average BMI in 2006 was greater than that in 1989 for both men and women.…”

Excess deaths associated with obesity: cause and effect

“…For example, national survey data from NHANES have shown declines since 1960 in the prevalence of high cholesterol at all BMI levels. 3 Much of the decline, particularly in the 1970s, is likely to have been due to increased public awareness and to changes in the amount and types of fat in the diet, rather than to any widespread use of cholesterol-lowering drugs. In the 1988-1994 NHANES survey, only 3.5% of the obese population ages 20-74 years reported use of cholesterollowering medications, yet the prevalence of high cholesterol among both obese and lean declined steadily from 1960 to 1994.…”