Demi
Fri, Dec-15-06, 04:31
An interesting article from the blog of Dr John Briffa about the uselessness of using the BMI as a measure of obesity:
Recent evidence suggests that bigger is better (http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2006/12/13/recent-evidence-suggests-that-bigger-is-better/)
Whoa182
Fri, Dec-15-06, 05:09
Risk Factors for Mortality in Middle-aged Women
Jeffrey A. Tice; Alka Kanaya; Trisha Hue; Susan Rubin; Diana S. M. Buist;
Andrea LaCroix; James V. Lacey Jr; Jane A. Cauley; Stephanie Litwack; Louise
A. Brinton; Douglas C. Bauer
Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:2469-2477.
Background Many factors contribute to mortality in older women, but their
relative importance and independent contribution have been poorly
characterized.
Methods From 1990 to 1992, we assessed demographics, lifestyle measures,
prevalent disease, medication use, anthropometrics, vital signs, and
physical function in 17 748 postmenopausal women. We used proportional
hazards modeling to evaluate their association with mortality.
Results During 9 years of follow-up, 1886 women (10.6%) died. The relative
hazard (RH) of death was approximately 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI],
1.5-1.6) per 5 years of age, 1.4 (95% CI, 1.2-1.6) for a history of heart
disease, and 1.9 (95% CI, 1.6-2.3) for a history of breast cancer.
Modifiable risk factors associated with mortality included smoking (RH, 3.7
[95% CI, 3.1-4.5] for current smokers with a 50 pack-year history) and
systolic blood pressure (RH, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.5], fifth vs first
quintile). Elevated waist-hip ratio was associated with higher mortality
(RH, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.5], fifth vs first quintile), but obesity was
associated with lower mortality (RH, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.6-0.9] for body mass
index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in
meters] of >35.0 vs 18.5-25.0). Poor results on the timed Up and Go Test, a
measure of physical function, were also strongly associated with mortality
(RH, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.4-2.0], fifth vs first quintile).
Conclusions Simple measures are sufficient to stratify postmenopausal women
into groups at high and low risk of dying. Smoking, central obesity, blood
pressure, and physical function are potentially modifiable risk factors,
although clinical trials are required to demonstrate that change in these
factors affects mortality.
BMI: Underweight (BMI, </=18.5) Normal (BMI, 18.5-24.0) Overweight
(BMI, 25.0-29.0) Obese (BMI, 30.0-34.0) Very Obese (BMI, =/>35.0)
Risk of death: 1.88* 1.00 0.79* 0.70* 0.70*
* P <0.001