Weight loss

Suggested

3 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested3 studies

Maintaining healthy weight significantly reduces cardiovascular disease risk and mortality

Three cohort studies totaling over 62,000 participants consistently link excess weight to elevated cardiovascular risk. In a Korean cohort of 53,026 adults followed 8.6 years, men with waist circumference ≥91 cm faced 62% higher ASCVD risk (HR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.25–2.10) and 70% higher ischemic heart disease risk (HR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.19–2.42), independent of BMI. A Swiss cohort of 9,853 adults followed over 25 years found obesity doubled cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.60–2.62), with 8.8–13.7% of all CVD deaths attributable to obesity. A multicohort European analysis confirmed obesity independently reduces chronic disease-free life expectancy, with individuals carrying no modifiable risk factors living 6 years longer free of chronic disease. Weight loss targeting both BMI and waist circumference offers a direct, modifiable pathway to lower cardiovascular risk.

Evidence

Obesity but not overweight is associated with increased mortality risk

Authors: Bopp, Matthias, Braun, Julia, Faeh, David, Tarnutzer, Silvan

Published: June 18, 2018

Among 9,853 adults in the Swiss MONICA cohort (1983-1992) followed until 2008, obesity (BMI≥30) was associated with a cardiovascular disease mortality HR of 2.05 (95% CI: 1.60-2.62) compared to normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), after adjustment for age and sex. This was the largest cause-specific association observed, exceeding both all-cause mortality HR 1.41 (95% CI: 1.23-1.62) and cancer mortality HR 1.29 (95% CI: 1.04-1.60). Between 8.8% and 13.7% of all CVD deaths in the population were attributable to obesity. The BMI-mortality curve was J-shaped in non-smokers and U-shaped in smokers.

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Smoking, physical inactivity and obesity as predictors of healthy and disease-free life expectancy between ages 50 and 75 : a multicohort study

Authors: Aalto, Ville, Goldberg, Marcel, Hanson, Linda Magnuson, Head, Jenny, Kawachi, Ichiro, Kivimaki, Mika, Stenholm, Sari, Vahtera, Jussi, Westerlund, Hugo, Zaninotto, Paola, Zins, Marie

Published: August 1, 2016

In a multicohort analysis of four European studies (England, Finland, France, Sweden), obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m²) was one of three modifiable risk factors examined as a predictor of chronic disease-free life expectancy from ages 50 to 75. Chronic diseases included cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Participants with zero risk factors lived an average of 6 years longer free of chronic diseases and 8 years longer in good self-rated health compared to those with two or more risk factors. Obesity as a single risk factor was independently associated with fewer healthy life-years. Sex-specific multistate life table modelling confirmed these associations were consistent across all four national cohorts.

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Waist Circumference predicting Cardiovascular Disease in Korean Men and Women

Authors: Sat Byul Park, Sun Ha Jee

Published: July 2, 2010

In a prospective cohort of 53,026 adults followed 8.6 years, men with waist circumference ≥91 cm had a 62% higher risk of ASCVD (HR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.25–2.10) and 70% higher risk of IHD (HR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.19–2.42) compared with men with waist circumference <78 cm, independent of BMI and traditional risk factors. Multivariable hazard ratios for ASCVD, IHD, and stroke increased progressively with higher waist circumference in both sexes (P for trend in men: 0.0118 for ASCVD, 0.0139 for IHD). Waist circumference remained significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors after adjustment for age and BMI (P <0.001).

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