Excess Weight Raises Likelihood of Death

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Cardiovascular mortality in overweight subjects: the key role of associated risk factors, by F. Thomas and colleagues. Hypertension 466:654–659, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Being overweight is linked to a range of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high levels of fats in the blood, and a greater chance of heart disease.

But scientists aren't sure what effect being overweight or obese has on the chances of dying from cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels). People who are likely to die from heart and blood vessel disease often have other health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers had information about a large group of people who had been studied closely for 25 years. They hoped that analyzing this information might show whether being overweight raises a person's chance of dying from heart and blood vessel disease.

Who was studied?

The study included more than 140,000 people living in Paris, France, and its environs who were treated at a medical center supported by the French national health system. The group was a broad sample of people, ranging from 18 to 98 years old. They have been followed since 1970.

How was the study done?

Researchers reviewed records from health check-ups, which included detailed medical information. They looked specifically for conditions known to increase the chances of heart and blood vessel disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high levels of fats in the blood.

What did the researchers find?

Overweight people who had no other health problems were no more likely to die of heart and blood vessel disease than somebody of normal weight. Overweight people with diabetes by itself or high blood pressure by itself similarly had no greater chance of dying from heart and blood vessel disease.

However, having a combination of health problems dramatically raised the chances of dying from heart and blood vessel disease. Overweight people with high blood pressure and diabetes or high levels of fats in the blood were more than twice as likely to die of heart and blood vessel disease than an overweight person with only one other health problem.

What were the limitations of the study?

The diagnosis of diabetes was based on what patients said, and not on blood tests. Some cases of diabetes may have been missed. Also, the proportion of overweight and obese people in the group in the study seems to be low.

What are the implications of the study?

Controlling health problems of overweight people may be key to lowering the chances of dying from heart and blood vessel disease.