Body composition and mortality from middle to old age: a prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank
Authors' conclusion
Obesity should be prevented at any age. Attenuated associations with older age were observed only among the individuals with the highest obesity, but the risk remained higher compared to normal-weight participants. Lean mass did not reduce mortality risk at any age.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants, mean baseline age 56.3 ± 8.1 years (range 38.9–73.7), 54.1% women; followed from baseline (2006–2010) through 31 March 202010,660 deaths
- Participants
- 369,752 participants
- Exposure
- Adiposity and body composition categories vs normal weight
- Outcome
- All-cause mortality from 45 to 85 years of age, by adiposity and body composition metrics
- Follow-up
- Median 11.4 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, multivariable-adjusted flexible parametric survival models, age as timescale
- UK Biobank
- Multivariable-adjusted flexible parametric survival models
- Age as timescale
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
All-cause mortality
Each group vs normal weightHazard ratio (95% CI)
Obesity class Iat age 60
1.20(1.08–1.33)
Obesity class Iat age 80
1.14(0.98–1.30)
- Obesity class II · across all age
- HR about 1.55
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Very high lean mass and mortality · ages 55-75 years
- Very high lean mass associated with increased risk of mortality, HR
- about 1.20
Original publication
Body composition and mortality from middle to old age: a prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 22 April 2023. doi:10.
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