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Overweight and obesity as risk factors for chronic diseases
Introduction The questions in this module measure:
Height Weight Waist circumference Hip circumference
Researchfindings
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 orobese. 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 increasingBMI. 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 byBMI. 3
To achieve optimum health, the median BMI for an adult
population should bein the range of 21 to 23 kg/m 2, while the goal
for individuals should be tomaintain BMI in the range 18.5 to 24.9
kg/m 2. There is slightly increased riskof co morbidities for BMI
25.0 to 29.9, and moderate to severe risk of comorbidities for BMI
greater than 30. 4
Waist circumference is an approximate index of intra-abdominal
fat mass andtotal body fat. Changes in waist circumference reflect
changes in risk factorsfor cardiovascular disease and other forms
of chronic diseases. 3
Waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio are more powerful
determinants ofsubsequent risk of type 2 diabetes than BMI. 5, 6,
7, 8, 9
Reference 1. Preventing Chronic Diseases, a vital investment.
Geneva, World HealthOrganization, 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 jointWHO/FAO expert consultation. Geneva, World Health
Organization,2003.
4. Obesity: preventing and managing global epidemic. Report of a
WHOconsultation. 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.
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6. Despres J P et al. Treatment of obesity: need to focus on
high riskabdominally obese patients. British Medical Journal, Vol
322, 2001:716-720.
7. Chan J M et al. Obesity, fat distribution, and weight gain as
risk factorsfor 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
ofMedicine, Vol 33, 2001:534-541.
