Mixed
High body mass index (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) is a major global cause of disease burden, contributing to 2.4 million deaths and 70.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in females and 2.3 million deaths and 77.0 million DALYs in males in 2017, with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney diseases being the leading causes.
Maintaining a BMI within the healthy range (typically 18.5–24.9 kg/m²) is critical for preventing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. Public health initiatives should target population-wide strategies to reduce high BMI, tailored to the development status of specific regions.
Globally, in 2017, high BMI caused 2.4 million (95% UI 1.6 million, 3.4 million) deaths and 70.7 million (95% UI 49.1 million, 94.9 million) DALYs in females, and 2.3 million (95% UI 1.4 million, 3.4 million) deaths and 77.0 million (95% UI 49.7 million, 108.2 million) DALYs in males.
Why this rating
Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, utilizing data from 2,288 sources across 195 countries, providing high statistical power and global representativeness.
Source
The global burden of disease attributable to high body mass index in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: An analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study
Haijiang Dai et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2020
DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003198
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Related findings · Mixed
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