Modest Excess Weight May Lead to Premature Death

People with a history of being overweight (BMI = 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2) have a 6 percent increased risk of premature death, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers looked at three cohorts of health professionals totaling 225,072 participants and found that those who fell within the overweight or obese categories were at a higher risk for premature death from any cause, compared with those who were normal weight. Obese participants had a much higher risk at 24 to 73 percent increased risk for premature death, compared with those who were normal weight.