Table 2.
Relative co-morbidity risks related to being overweight or obese
| Co-morbidity | Measure | Overweight | Obesity | ||
| Male | Female | Male | Female | ||
| Type II Diabetes* | BMI | 2.40 (2.12–2.72) | 3.92 (3.10–4.97) | 6.74 (5.55–8.19) | 12.41 (9.03–17.06) |
| WC | 2.27 (1.67–3.10)† | 3.40 (2.42–4.78) | 5.13 (3.81–6.90)† | 11.10 (8.23–14.96) | |
| Cancer | |||||
| Breast, Postmenopausal | BMI | - | 1.08 (1.03–1.14) | - | 1.13 (1.05–1.22) |
| Colorectal | BMI | 1.51 (1.37–1.67) | 1.45 (1.30–1.62) | 1.95 (1.59–2.39) | 1.66 (1.52–1.81) |
| Endometrial | BMI | - | 1.53 (1.45–1.61) | - | 3.22 (2.91–3.56) |
| Esophageal | BMI | 1.13 (1.02–1.26) | 1.15 (0.97–1.36) | 1.21 (0.97–1.52) | 1.20 (0.95–1.53) |
| Kidney | BMI | 1.40 (1.31–1.49) | 1.82 (1.68–1.98) | 1.82 (1.61–2.05) | 2.64 (2.39–2.90) |
| Ovarian | BMI | - | 1.18 (1.12–1.23) | - | 1.28 (1.20–1.36) |
| Pancreatic | BMI | 1.28 (0.94–1.75) | 1.24 (0.98–1.56) | 2.29 (1.65–3.19) | 1.60 (1.17–2.20) |
| Prostate | BMI | 1.14 (1.00–1.31) | - | 1.05 (0.85–1.30) | - |
| Cardiovascular Diseases | |||||
| Hypertension* | BMI | 1.28 (1.10–1.50) | 1.65 (1.24–2.19) | 1.84 (1.51–2.24) | 2.42 (1.59–3.67) |
| WC | NA | 1.38 (1.27–1.51) | NA | 1.90 (1.77–2.03) | |
| Coronary Artery Disease* | BMI | 1.29 (1.18–1.41)† | 1.80 (1.64–1.98) | 1.72 (1.51–1.96)† | 3.10 (2.81–3.43) |
| WC | 1.41 (1.16–1.72)† | 1.82 (1.41–2.36) | 1.81 (1.45–2.25)† | 2.69 (2.05–3.53) | |
| Congestive Heart Failure* | BMI | 1.31 (0.96–1.79) | 1.27 (0.68–2.37)† | 1.79 (1.24–2.59) | 1.78 (1.07–2.95)† |
| Pulmonary Embolism | BMI | 1.91 (1.39–2.64) | 1.91 (1.39–2.64) | 3.51 (2.61–4.73) | 3.51 (2.61–4.73) |
| Stroke* | BMI | 1.23 (1.13–1.34)† | 1.15 (1.00–1.32)† | 1.51 (1.33–1.72)† | 1.49 (1.27–1.74)† |
| Other | |||||
| Asthma | BMI | 1.20 (1.08–1.33)† | 1.25 (1.05–1.49)† | 1.43 (1.14–1.79)† | 1.78 (1.36–2.32)† |
| Gallbladder Disease* | BMI | 1.09 (0.87–1.37)‡ | 1.44 (1.05–1.98)‡ | 1.43 (1.04–1.96)‡ | 2.32 (1.17–4.57)‡ |
| WC | 1.61 (1.40–1.85)† | NA | 2.38 (2.06–2.75)† | NA | |
| Osteoarthritis | BMI | 2.76 (2.05–3.70) | 1.80 (1.75–1.85)† | 4.20 (2.76–6.41) | 1.96 (1.88–2.04)† |
| Chronic Back Pain | BMI | 1.59 (1.34–1.89)† | 1.59 (1.34–1.89)† | 2.81 (2.27–3.48)† | 2.81 (2.27–3.48)† |
BMI: body mass index; WC: waist circumference
†If indicated, the relative risks calculated from the ratios of proportions (RR-Ps) were used; otherwise, the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were used;
‡Both RR-Ps and IRRs were used
*WC measures were considered to be the better risk predictor than BMI measures
Cancer: cases, not mortality and indicated by physician diagnosis of cancer; Coronary Artery Disease: indicated by Myocardial Infarction or Angina; Osteoarthritis: indicated by joint replacement; Chronic Back Pain: indicated by early retirement due to back pain
NA: Not available; "-" Not applicable