Overweight and obesity as risk factors for chronic diseases

Introduction

The questions in this module measure: Height Weight Waist circumference Hip circumference

Research findings

Some research findings related to overweight and obesity are as follows: At least 2.6 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.1 Overweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. Risks of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus increase steadily with increasing BMI.2 Raised BMI also increases the risks of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, endometrium, kidney and gall bladder.2 Mortality rates increase with increasing degrees of overweight, as measured by BMI.3 To achieve optimum health, the median BMI for an adult population should be in the range of 21 to 23 kg/m2, while the goal for individuals should be to maintain BMI in the range 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. There is slightly increased risk of co morbidities for BMI 25.0 to 29.9, and moderate to severe risk of co morbidities for BMI greater than 30.4 Waist circumference is an approximate index of intra-abdominal fat mass and total body fat. Changes in waist circumference reflect changes in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other forms of chronic diseases.3 Waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio are more powerful determinants of subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes than BMI.5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Reference

1. Preventing Chronic Diseases, a vital investment. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2005. 2. The World Health Report 2002. Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002. 3. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2003. 4. Obesity: preventing and managing global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2000. 5. Colditz G A et al. Weight as a risk factor for clinical diabetes in women. American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 132, 1990:501-513.

6. Despres J P et al. Treatment of obesity: need to focus on high risk abdominally obese patients. British Medical Journal, Vol 322, 2001:716720. 7. Chan J M et al. Obesity, fat distribution, and weight gain as risk factors for clinical diabetes in men. Diabetes Care, Vol 17, 1994:961-969. 8. Boyko E J et al. Visceral adiposity and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective study among Japanese Americans. Diabetes Care, Vol 23, 2000:465-471. 9. Despres J P. Health consequences of visceral obesity. Annals of Medicine, Vol 33, 2001:534-541.