Overweight and underweight can shorten life by about four years

/ dpa

London People of normal weight have the lowest risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease. A study in Endocrinology and Lancet Diabetes (2018, doi: 10.1016 / S2213-8587 (18) 30288-2), confirms that a body mbad index (BMI) of 21 to 25 kg / m² better conditions for a long life, such as being overweight or underweight.

Obesity and obesity are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Previous studies have also shown that people who are overweight or underweight have an increased risk of death. Krishnan Bhaskaran of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and staff evaluating UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) data have now reached this conclusion. The CPRD stores the electronic medical records of British family doctors patients. There is also regular information on the BMI of patients.

The researchers evaluated data for 3.6 million patients, 367,512 of whom died. Overall, there was a J-shaped badociation. Patients with a BMI of 25 kg / m², Each increase in BMI of 5 kg / m² was badociated with a 21% increase in the risk of death (risk ratio of 1.21, 95% confidence interval from 1.20 to 1.22). Below a BMI of 25 kg / m² took the risk of 9% per 5 kg / m² at (risk ratio of 0.81, 0.80 to 0.82 for the increase of 5 kg / m²).

Obesity (BMI 30 or higher) was badociated with 4.2 years of life for men and 3.5 years for women. Men with morbid obesity (BMI greater than 40) lose 9.1 years and women 7.7 years.

A high BMI not only increases the risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease. An badociation was also detectable for respiratory diseases, liver disease and diabetes.

Low BMI was badociated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, dementia, and suicide. According to Bhaskaran, underweight is just as much an indicator of poor health as being overweight.

The lowest risk of cardiovascular death was in patients with a BMI of 25 kg / m², Each increase in BMI of 5 kg / m² was badociated with a 29% increase in cardiovascular risk (risk ratio of 1.29, 1.27-1.30). The lowest risk of cancer deaths was observed in people with a BMI of 21 kg / m², Each increase in BMI of 5 kg / m² This was badociated with a higher risk of 13% (risk ratio of 1.13, 1.22-1.14).

In the United Kingdom, 5.5% of deaths are due to obesity and 0.7% to underweight. © heat / aerzteblatt.de