The Counterweight programme: Prevalence of CVD risk factors by body mass index and the impact of 10% weight change

M McQuigg; J E Brown; J Broom; R A Laws; J P D Reckless; P A Noble; S Kumar; E L McCombie; M E J Lean; F G Lyons; G S Frost; M F Quinn; J H Barth; S M Haynes; N Finer; D W Haslam; H M Ross; D J Hole; S Radziwonik

doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2008.01.002

The Counterweight programme: Prevalence of CVD risk factors by body mass index and the impact of 10% weight change

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2008 Mar;2(1):I-II. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2008.01.002.

Authors

M McQuigg¹, J E Brown², J Broom³, R A Laws², J P D Reckless², P A Noble², S Kumar², E L McCombie², M E J Lean², F G Lyons², G S Frost², M F Quinn², J H Barth², S M Haynes², N Finer², D W Haslam², H M Ross², D J Hole², S Radziwonik²

Affiliations

¹ Public Health and Health Policy, Division of Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. Electronic address:[email protected].
² Public Health and Health Policy, Division of Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.
³ Public Health and Health Policy, Division of Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. Electronic address:[email protected].

PMID: 24351674
DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2008.01.002

Abstract

Objectives: To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI), prevalence of physician-recorded cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in primary care, and changes in risk with 10% weight change.

Methods: The Counterweight Project conducted a baseline cross-sectional survey of medical records of 6150 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)), 1150 age- and sex-matched overweight (BMI 25 to <30 kg/m(2)), and 1150 age- and sex-matched normal weight (BMI 18.5 to <25 kg/m(2)) controls, in primary care. Data were collected for the previous 18 months to examine BMI and disease prevalence, and then modelled to show the potential effect of 10% weight loss or gain on risk.

Results: Obese patients develop more CVD risk factors than normal weight controls. BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) exhibits increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), odds ratio (OR) men: 6.16 (p < 0.001); women: 7.82 (p < 0.001) and hypertension OR men: 5.51 (p < 0.001); women: 4.16 (p < 0.001). Dyslipidaemia peaked around BMI 35 to <37.5 kg/m(2), OR men: 3.26 (p < 0.001); women 3.76 (p < 0.001) and CVD at BMI 37.5 to <40 kg/m(2) in men, OR 4.48 (p < 0.001) and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) in women, OR 3.98 (p < 0.001). A 10% weight loss from the sample mean of 32.5 kg/m(2) reduced the OR for type 2 DM by 30% and CVD by 20%, while 10% weight gain increased type 2 DM risk by more than 35% and CVD by 20%.

Conclusion: Obesity plays a fundamental role in CVD risk, which is reduced with weight loss. Weight management intervention strategies should be a public health priority to reduce the burden of disease in the population.