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.
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
DOI 10.1016/s0140-6736(16)30175-1
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →