Obesity

Association of body mass index (BMI) with mortality and health‐related quality of life among 4.4 million adults: Evidence from a nationwide, population‐based, prospective cohort study

Diabetes Obes MetabPublished Prospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

We found distinct ranges of BMI for minimized mortality risk and maximized HRQL. The BMI range corresponding to the HRQL is lower than the BMI range corresponding to the lowest risk of death generally. Therefore, it is worth considering how to define the new recommended range for a new BMI based on the goal of 'living a longer and healthier life'.

Study context

Population
Adults in ChinaHEART, 20,159 communities or villages; mean age 56.4 ± 10.0 years, 59.0% female
Participants
4,485,773 adults
Exposure
BMI per 1 kg/m² increase
Outcome
All-cause and cause-specific mortality; HRQL
Methodological detailsnationwide, population-based
  • Nationwide
  • Population-based

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

All-cause mortality (U-shaped association, inflection 26-27 kg/m²) · median follow-up 5.3 years

Deaths from all causes

142 004

HR per 1 kg/m² increase in BMI below the turning point

0.92

95% CI 0.92–0.93

HR per 1 kg/m² increase in BMI above the turning point

1.03

95% CI 1.03–1.04

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) (inverted J-shape, peak 22-23 kg/m²)

OR per 1 kg/m² increase in BMI below 22-23 kg/m²
0.98 (95% CI 0.98, 0.99)
OR per 1 kg/m² increase in BMI above 22-23 kg/m²
1.03 (95% CI 1.03-1.03)

Original publication

Association of BMI with mortality and health‐related quality of life among 4.4 million adults: Evidence from a nationwide, population‐based, prospective cohort study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 14 March 2025. doi:10.1111/dom.16325

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