Research
Mixed
Higher BMI is associated with increased all-cause mortality in a J-shaped curve, with the lowest mortality risk occurring at a BMI of 20-25 kg/m2 for never-smokers without chronic disease, and increased risk for BMI > 25 kg/m2.
Maintain a BMI between 20 and 25 kg/m2 to minimize your risk of death. If you are a smoker or have a chronic disease, your optimal BMI might be slightly higher, but for the general healthy population, staying in this range is the safest bet for longevity.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
The lowest mortality risk was at a BMI of 20-25 kg/m2 for never-smokers without chronic disease, and the risk increased for BMI > 25 kg/m2.
Why this rating
Individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies across four continents involving millions of participants.
Source
Body-mass index and all-cause mortality: individual-participant-data meta-analysis of 239 prospective studies in four continents
Emanuele Di Angelantonio et al. · The Lancet · 2016
Meta-analysis · 239 studiesCited 2,789×
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