Diseases associated with obesity

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Thursday, April 01, 2004 5:59 am Email this article
"Clinicians are likely to encounter morbidity more frequently among their patients with elevated BMI, even those patients in the overweight category [with a body mass index greater than 25]," concludes a recent study by researchers from Tufts University, Harvard School of Public Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study included data from 16,884 overweight U.S. adults.

Approximately 63 percent of the men and 55 percent of the women were either overweight or obese with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25.

While 21 percent of the men and 27 percent of the women were obese with a BMI greater than 30.

Here is the prevalence of various diseases for varying degrees of overweight compared to the prevalence seen in those who are of normal weight.

TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affected 5 percent of overweight men and 10-12 percent of obese men compared to 2 percent of normal weight men.

Seven percent of overweight women and 7-20 percent of obese women were affected compared to 2 percent of normal weight women.

The effect of weight on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was 3-4 times stronger in younger than older men and women.

The true prevalence may be twice as high as they found based on other studies showing an under-reporting of diabetes by more than 50 percent according to the authors.

GALLBLADDER DISEASE

Gallbladder disease affected 3 percent of overweight men and 5-10 percent of obese men compared to 2 percent of normal weight men.

It affected 12 percent of overweight women and 16-23 percent of obese women compared to 6 percent of normal weight women.

The effect of weight on gallbladder disease was greatest among young men, however the prevalence was twice as great in women as men.

CORONARY HEART DISEASE

Coronary Heart disease affected 10 percent of overweight men and 10-16 percent of obese men compared to 9 percent of normal weight men.

It affected 11 percent of overweight women and 12-19 percent of obese women compared to 7 percent of normal weight women.

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL

High blood cholesterol—defined as greater than 240 ml/dl—was very common in both sexes but was not more prevalent with increasing weight.

High blood cholesterol affected 34-39 percent of overweight men and 36-46 percent of overweight women compared to 27 percent of normal weight men and women.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure—defined as greater than 140/90 mmHg—was the most common condition related to being overweight showing a strong increase in prevalence with increasing weight.

It affected 34 percent of overweight men and 49-65 percent of obese men compared to 23 percent of normal weight men.

It affected 39 percent of overweight women and 48-63 percent of obese women compared to 23 percent of normal weight women.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis affected 5 percent of overweight men and 5-10 percent of obese men compared to 3 percent of normal weight men.

It affected 9 percent of overweight women and 10-17 percent of obese women compared to 5 percent of normal weight women.

REFERENCE

Must A; Spadano J; Coakley EH; Field AE; Colditz G; Dietz WH. The Disease Burden Associated With Overweight and Obesity. Jama, 1999 Oct 27, 282(16):1523-9.

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Arthritis

• Blood Pressure

• Cholesterol

• Diabetes

• Gallbadder Disease

• Health Risks of obesity

• Heart Disease