Mixed
Among patients with type 2 diabetes, a BMI of 30–34.9 kg/m² is associated with the lowest all-cause mortality risk, while risks significantly increase at BMIs <30 kg/m² (for blacks) or <25 kg/m² (for whites) and ≥35 kg/m² (for blacks) or ≥40 kg/m² (for whites).
If you have Type 2 Diabetes, current large-scale data suggests that maintaining a BMI between 30 and 35 kg/m² is associated with the lowest risk of death compared to being underweight or morbidly obese. While standard guidelines often target a BMI <25, this study indicates that aggressively lowering your BMI below 30 (for Black patients) or 25 (for White patients) might actually increase your mortality risk. Do not attempt rapid weight loss to reach 'normal' BMI ranges without discussing these specific mortality risks with your endocrinologist, as your current weight may be providing a metabolic buffer.
A significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality was observed among blacks with BMI <30 kg/m2 and ≥35 kg/m2 and among whites with BMI <25 kg/m2 and ≥40 kg/m2 compared with patients with BMI of 30 to 34.9 kg/m2.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (n=34,832), long follow-up (mean 8.7 years), rigorous adjustment for confounders, and time-dependent modeling.
Source
Body Mass Index and the Risk of All-Cause Mortality Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Wenhui Zhao et al. · Circulation · 2014
DOI 10.1161/circulationaha.114.009098
Related findings · Mixed
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