Mortality attributable to higher-than-optimal body mass index in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the burden of mortality in New Zealand due to higher-than-optimal body mass index (BMI) in 1997, as well as mortality that could be avoided in 2011 with feasible changes in mean population BMI.


METHODS
New Zealand.


METHODS
Comparative risk assessment methodology was used to estimate the attributable and avoidable mortality due to high BMI. Outcomes assessed were ischaemic heart disease (IHD), ischaemic stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, colorectal cancer and postmenopausal breast cancer.


RESULTS
In 1997, 3154 deaths (11% of all deaths) in New Zealand were due to higher-than-optimal BMI (>21 kg m(-2)). This amounted to 83% of diabetes deaths, 24% of IHD deaths, 15% of ischaemic stroke deaths and 4% of all cancer deaths. If the projected increase in mean population BMI by 2011 was limited to 1.0 kg m(-2) rather than 1.3 kg m(-2), approximately 385 deaths could be prevented annually, mainly from diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
These results quantify the importance of higher-than-optimal BMI as a major modifiable cause of premature death in New Zealand. Intervention policies that would have only modest effects on slowing the rate of increase in mean population BMI by 2011 could still prevent hundreds of deaths annually.
Public Health Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Health, Wellington, New Zealand. c.nimhurchu@ctru.auckland.ac.nz
Cliona
C
Ni Mhurchu
Maria
M
Turley
Niki
N
Stefanogiannis
Carlene M M
CM
Lawes
Anthony
A
Rodgers
Stephen
S
Vander Hoorn
Martin
M
Tobias
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000401:mortality*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality