Affiliation:
1. Seoul National University
2. Seoul National University Hospital
Abstract
Abstract
Background Obesity is the major cause of chronic diseases and the leading cause of mortality. We aimed to assess the impact of obesity on mortality in middle-aged Koreans using data from a Health Examinees study.Methods We used data from 39,689 men and 76,272 women who had complete information on body size and gave informed consent for the linkage of their data with the national death certificate data. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of body mass index (BMI) for all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. The educational level and habits of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular physical activity were adjusted. The menopausal status was additionally adjusted in women.Results We found increased risks of all-cause mortality among those with a BMI of < 18.5 kg/m2 (adjusted HRs [95% CIs]: men, 2.24 [1.73–2.91]; women, 1.47 [0.98–2.22]) and 18.0–< 21 kg/m2 (men, 1.18 [1.00–1]; women, 1.23 [1.01–1.50]) than in those with a BMI of 21–< 23 kg/m2. We also observed that men with BMIs of 23–< 25 kg/m2 (0.85 [0.74–0.97]) and 25.0–26.9 kg/m2 (0.87 [0.75-1.00]) had decreased risks of all-cause mortality.Conclusion This large prospective study found significant associations between BMI and mortality. Especially, being underweight was associated with an increased risk of mortality in both sexes.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference21 articles.
1. World Health Organization. Fact sheet: Obesity and overweight 2021; Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight.
2. Obesity Fact Sheet in Korea, 2021: Trends in Obesity Prevalence and Obesity-Related Comorbidity Incidence Stratified by Age from 2009 to 2019;Yang YS;J Obes Metabolic Syndrome,2022
3. Guidelines for healthy weight;Willett WC;N Engl J Med,1999
4. Obesity and mortality: watch your waist, not just your weight;Hu FB;Arch Intern Med,2007
5. Chong B, et al. Trends and predictions of malnutrition and obesity in 204 countries and territories: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. eClinicalMedicine; 2023. p. 57.