BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between body mass index (BMI) in early and mid-adulthood, and BMI change between these ages, and mortality. METHODS: Historical cohort study of 629 men, who had height and weight measured at the Student Health Service of the University of Glasgow in 1948-1949 (median age 22 y) and who reported their weight in a postal questionnaire in 1963-1966 (median age 38 y). The participants were followed up until April 2002 (mean follow-up: 35 y). During this time, 124 men died, 68 of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 33 of cancer. FINDINGS: Mean BMI increased from 21.4 kg/m(2) (standard deviation (s.d.): 2.2 kg/m(2)) in early adulthood to 24.2 kg/m(2) (s.d.: 3.0 kg/m(2)) in mid-adulthood. All-cause mortality was associated with being overweight (BMI> or =25 kg/m(2)) at age 22 but not at age 38, adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-3.13) and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.73-1.52), respectively. BMI at age 22 y was more strongly associated with CVD mortality than was BMI at age 38 y, adjusted HR(22 y): 2.41 (95% CI: 1.26-4.60) and HR(38 y): 1.33 (95% CI: 0.82-2.16). There was no clear relationship between cancer mortality and BMI at either age: HR(22 y): 0.68 (95% CI: 0.16-2.91), HR(38 y): 0.90 (95% CI: 0.44-1.84), although relatively few men died of cancer in the follow-up period. Similar patterns were seen for obesity (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)) as for being overweight. Analyses of weight patterns indicated particularly detrimental effects of overweight persisting from early to mid-adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: BMI in early adulthood is positively related to CVD mortality in later life in men. The risk associated with early adulthood adiposity appeared to be greater than that in mid-adulthood. We did not demonstrate an association between weight gain and later mortality. These results reinforce the need to stem the obesity epidemic in children and young adults.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between body mass index (BMI) in early and mid-adulthood, and BMI change between these ages, and mortality. METHODS: Historical cohort study of 629 men, who had height and weight measured at the Student Health Service of the University of Glasgow in 1948-1949 (median age 22 y) and who reported their weight in a postal questionnaire in 1963-1966 (median age 38 y). The participants were followed up until April 2002 (mean follow-up: 35 y). During this time, 124 men died, 68 of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 33 of cancer. FINDINGS: Mean BMI increased from 21.4 kg/m(2) (standard deviation (s.d.): 2.2 kg/m(2)) in early adulthood to 24.2 kg/m(2) (s.d.: 3.0 kg/m(2)) in mid-adulthood. All-cause mortality was associated with being overweight (BMI> or =25 kg/m(2)) at age 22 but not at age 38, adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-3.13) and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.73-1.52), respectively. BMI at age 22 y was more strongly associated with CVD mortality than was BMI at age 38 y, adjusted HR(22 y): 2.41 (95% CI: 1.26-4.60) and HR(38 y): 1.33 (95% CI: 0.82-2.16). There was no clear relationship between cancer mortality and BMI at either age: HR(22 y): 0.68 (95% CI: 0.16-2.91), HR(38 y): 0.90 (95% CI: 0.44-1.84), although relatively few men died of cancer in the follow-up period. Similar patterns were seen for obesity (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)) as for being overweight. Analyses of weight patterns indicated particularly detrimental effects of overweight persisting from early to mid-adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: BMI in early adulthood is positively related to CVD mortality in later life in men. The risk associated with early adulthood adiposity appeared to be greater than that in mid-adulthood. We did not demonstrate an association between weight gain and later mortality. These results reinforce the need to stem the obesity epidemic in children and young adults.
Authors: G Twig; N Geva; H Levine; E Derazne; N Goldberger; Z Haklai; A Leiba; J D Kark Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2017-10-30 Impact factor: 5.095
Authors: Kenneth F Adams; Michael F Leitzmann; Rachel Ballard-Barbash; Demetrius Albanes; Tamara B Harris; Albert Hollenbeck; Victor Kipnis Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2013-10-29 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Adrianne C Feldstein; Gregory A Nichols; David H Smith; A Gabriela Rosales; Nancy Perrin Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2008-06-28 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: C G Owen; P H Whincup; L Orfei; Q-A Chou; A R Rudnicka; A K Wathern; S J Kaye; J G Eriksson; C Osmond; D G Cook Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2009-06-09 Impact factor: 5.095