Weight management

Suggested

4 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested4 studies

Maintaining healthy body weight substantially reduces mortality and chronic disease burden

Four studies encompassing over 983,000 participants confirm a strong, dose-dependent relationship between excess body weight and adverse health outcomes. A pooled analysis of 239,526 African Americans found mortality hazard ratios climbing from 1.24–1.32 at BMI 30–34.9 to 1.80–2.31 at BMI 40+, compared to normal weight. Among 734,438 Swedish men, obesity at age 18 doubled all-cause mortality risk (HR 2.17, 95% CI 2.02–2.34), with elevated risk even at upper normal weight. Population-based cohort data from 9,061 adults showed that avoiding overweight, along with smoking and hypertension, delayed chronic disease onset by 9.0 years and extended life by 6.0 years. A Latin American consensus statement links excess body weight to at least 15 cancer sites, identifying it as a primary modifiable risk factor. Weight management through dietary modification and physical activity delivers measurable reductions in mortality, cancer risk, and years spent with non-communicable diseases.

Evidence

Latin American and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st edition : Weight, physical activity, diet, breastfeeding, and cancer

Authors: Aburto, T.C., Barnoya, J., Barquera, S., Canelo-Aybar, C., Cavalcante, T.M., Corvalán, C., Espina, C., Feliu, A., Hallal, P.C., Reynales-Shigematsu, L.M., Rivera, J.A., Romieu, I., Santero, Marilina, Stern, M.C., Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Published: January 1, 2023

The consensus statement establishes excess body weight as associated with at least 15 cancer sites, making weight management the primary recommendation of the Latin American and Caribbean Code Against Cancer. A considerable proportion of the Latin American and Caribbean population currently has excess body weight. The code addresses both individual behavior (maintain a healthy body weight) and policy-level interventions to shape healthy environments. Sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods are identified as convincing causes of excess body weight, with emerging evidence of direct cancer pathways beyond the obesity mechanism.

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Lifetime risk and multimorbidity of non-communicable diseases and disease-free life expectancy in the general population : a population-based cohort study

Authors: Arshi, Banafsheh, Bos, Daniel, Brusselle, Guy, de Roos, Emmely W, Fani, Lana, Heshmatollah, Alis, Hofman, Albert, Ikram, M Arfan, Ikram, M Kamran, Kavousi, Maryam, Koudstaal, Peter J, Lahousse, Lies, Leening, Maarten JG, Licher, Silvan, Ruiter, Rikje, Stricker, Bruno HCh, van der Willik, Kimberly D

Published: January 1, 2019

Among 9,061 participants aged 45+ in the Rotterdam Study, overweight was one of three shared risk factors evaluated. The lifetime risk of any NCD exceeded 90% regardless of risk factor status, but absence of overweight, smoking, and hypertension delayed NCD onset by 9.0 years (95% CI 6.3–11.6). Those without these risk factors lived 6.0 years longer (95% CI 5.2–6.8) and spent only 21.6% of remaining life with NCDs versus 31.8% for those with all three factors. Of 4,637 participants who developed any NCD, 1,563 (33.7%) were diagnosed with multiple diseases.

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A Pooled Analysis of Body Mass Index and Mortality among African Americans

Authors: Bethea, Traci N., Black, Amanda, Blot, William J., Boggs, Deborah A., Cohen, Sarah S., de Gonzalez, Amy Berrington, Fraser, Gary, Gapstur, Susan, Gillanders, Elizabeth, Hartge, Patricia, Harvey, Chinonye, Kitahara, Cari M., Knutsen, Synnove F., Kolonel, Laurence N., Matthews, Charles E., Monroe, Kristine R., Palmer, Julie R., Park, Song-Yi, Park, Yikyung, Patel, Alpa V., Purdue, Mark P., Signorello, Lisa B., Singh, Pramil

Published: November 17, 2014

Pooled analysis of 239,526 African Americans from seven prospective cohort studies with up to 26.5 years of follow-up (mean 11.7 years). Among 100,175 healthy never-smokers (11,386 deaths), compared to BMI 22.5–24.9, hazard ratios for men at BMI 30–34.9 were 1.32 (95% CI 1.18–1.47), BMI 35–39.9 were 1.54 (95% CI 1.29–1.83), and BMI 40–49.9 were 1.93 (95% CI 1.46–2.56). For women, HRs were 1.24 (95% CI 1.15–1.34) at BMI 30–34.9, 1.58 (95% CI 1.43–1.74) at BMI 35–39.9, 1.80 (95% CI 1.60–2.02) at BMI 40–49.9, and 2.31 (95% CI 1.74–3.07) at BMI 50–60. Associations were strongest among those with highest educational attainment and longest follow-up duration.

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Weight status in young adulthood and survival after cardiovascular diseases and cancer

Authors: Rasmussen, Finn, Silventoinen, Karri, Tynelius, Per

Published: January 1, 2014

Among 734,438 Swedish men with BMI measured at average age 18, 33,067 deaths occurred over 24.56 million person-years of follow-up. Compared to normal weight (BMI 20.1-22.4), moderately overweight men (BMI 25.0-27.4) had HR=1.26 (95% CI 1.21-1.32), upper overweight (BMI 27.5-29.9) had HR=1.49 (95% CI 1.40-1.59), and obese men (BMI>30) had HR=2.17 (95% CI 2.02-2.34) for all-cause mortality. Even upper normal weight (BMI 22.5-24.9) showed slightly elevated risk at HR=1.07 (95% CI 1.04-1.11). The association was largely linear with no evidence of an obesity paradox. Results persisted after full adjustment for blood pressure, muscle strength, education, and socioeconomic position in Model 4.

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