title: [New findings on the influence of body weight on mortality].
abstract: The link between obesity/adipositas and excess mortality has been a prominent topic in medical literature for some time. The epidemic increase in obesity in the western world is going to confront the medical profession with a new problem, particularly with regard to life expectancy trends and appropriate prophylactic measures. Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re), which has a large portfolio of life reinsurance business, has conducted a follow-up study over an observation period of 25 years (1976 - 2001) to investigate the correlation between body weight and mortality. The findings indicate that the lifestyle-related risks of obesity and adipositas, especially in combination with other risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking, contribute to a significantly elevated mortality risk.
authors.affiliation: Aus der Swiss Re Germany AG, Unterföhring.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wandl
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Jaggy
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000401:mortality*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000401:mortality*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000401:mortality*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology