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. 1998 Apr;88(4):623–629. doi: 10.2105/ajph.88.4.623

Body mass index and mortality in nonsmoking older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

P Diehr 1, D E Bild 1, T B Harris 1, A Duxbury 1, D Siscovick 1, M Rossi 1
PMCID: PMC1508430  PMID: 9551005

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the relationship of body mass index to 5-year mortality in a cohort of 4317 nonsmoking men and women aged 65 to 100 years. METHODS: Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict mortality as a function of baseline body mass index, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and laboratory covariates. RESULTS: There was an inverse relationship between body mass index and mortality; death rates were higher for those who weighed the least. Inclusion of covariates had trivial effects on these results. People who had lost 10% or more of their body weight since age 50 had a relatively high death rate. When that group was excluded, there was no remaining relationship between body mass index and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The association between higher body mass index and mortality often found in middle-aged populations was not observed in this large cohort of older adults. Over-weight does not seem to be a risk factor for 5-year mortality in this age group. Rather, the risks associated with significant weight loss should be the primary concern.

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Selected References

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