People whose body mass index (BMI) is considered overweight do not have an increased risk of death compared to those classified as obese, according to new research published this Wednesday, July 5, that highlights the limits of this indicator.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE:, intervenes in the context of population weight gain in both rich and poorer countries. More than 70% of adults in the United States are considered overweight or obese.
Limited indicator
According to the authors of the paper, Aayush Visaria and Soko Setoguchi of Rutgers University in New Jersey, these results suggest that other indicators, such as the distribution of excess body fat, provide more information about health status. Although BMI is widely used in the medical world, BMI is increasingly seen as a limited tool for assessing a person’s health.
“I think what people should take away from this is that BMI alone is not a very good indicator of health.Aayush Visaria told AFP. This means “has its uses“because he is”very simple to calculate and very affordablebut there are other factors to consider, such as waist measurement or bone and muscle density, he said. Excess weight continues to be associated with such diseases as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases, he emphasized. But “I have seen people with similar BMIs and very different health consequences.»
Extensive investigation
The study analyzed data from 550,000 American adults who responded to a large health survey conducted between 1999 and 2018, as well as a 2019 death database. More than 75,000 people died during the period studied. Information was collected on participants’ BMI, calculated from self-reported weight and height, as well as other factors such as physical activity, smoking, possible chronic diseases, or even health coverage.
The results showed that people with a BMI of 25 to 30, putting them in the overweight category, had no increased risk of death compared to those with a BMI of 22.5 to less than 25. People with a BMI of less than 20 and a BMI of 30 or more are classified as obese. Thus, someone who is morbidly obese (BMI 40 or more) and has never smoked has twice the risk of dying compared to a non-smoker with a BMI of 40 or more.normal“.
Diseases “better treated”
“This is a large study with a representative sampleGeorge Savva, a biostatistician at Britain’s Quadram Institute, commented to AFP. Other older work has established a link between excess weight and risk of death. To explain these new results, George Savva argues that diseases related to excess weight, such as high cholesterol or hypertension, are better supported today. “Thus, we can expect the relationship between weight and death to change over time.“, he said.
The relationship between mortality and BMImay no longer be an important measure knowing that many chronic conditions can now be better treatedNavid Sattar, a professor at the University of Glasgow, said. But “we also know that the greater the weight, the greater the risk of health problems such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypertension, kidney failure…“, he added: “These diseases affect people’s quality of life and happiness. It is these quality of life+ measures that we should focus more on.»
Source: Le Figaro
I am John Sinkler, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in writing about entertainment-related topics and have been doing so for several years now. My work has been featured on multiple platforms and I’m proud to say that it’s gained recognition from many people in the industry. Aside from working at Buna Times, I also write freelance articles for other publications.