Debunking the obesity paradox

A new study debunks the “obesity paradox.” A counter-intuitive notion that states that people who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease live longer if they are overweight or obese. Compared to people who are of normal weight at the time of diagnosis. Obese people live shorter lives and live longer with cardiovascular disease, a new Northwestern Medicine study reported. The study was published February 28 in JAMA Cardiology. It shows similar longevity between people with normal weight and overweight. But a greater risk for the latter of developing cardiovascular diseases throughout their lives. This is the first study to provide a lifetime perspective on the risks of developing cardiovascular disease and dying after a cardiovascular disease diagnosis for normal weight, overweight, and obese people. People with obesity do not actually live longer than people of normal weight with heart disease. They are only diagnosed at a younger age. “The obesity paradox caused a lot of confusion and potential harm because we know there are cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular risks associated with obesity,” said Dr. Sadiya Khan. Assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine.

BMI

Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 39.9. Overweight is 25 to 29.9. BMI is a person’s weight divided by the square of their height. An overweight person who is 5’4” and weighs 160 pounds, for example, would be considered overweight. A 5’4” person who weighs 190 pounds is considered obese. “A healthy weight promotes healthy longevity or a longer lifespan. So living healthier is also living longer,” Khan said. “It’s about having a much better quality of life“. The study examined individual-level data from 190,672 in-person examinations in 10 large prospective cohorts. All participants were free of cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Height and weight were objectively measured to assess BMI. During follow-up, researchers evaluated cardiovascular diseases overall and by type. Including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and cardiovascular death, as well as non-cardiovascular death. It is very important to share this information with our patients to eradicate this misconception about obesity and cardiovascular diseases.