New study reveals encouraging trends in obesity-related mortality rates
A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe has found significant declines in mortality rates among those living with obesity in England from 2004 to 2019.
Researchers analysed data from primary healthcare records linked with death registration to examine trends in all-cause and cause-specific mortality according to body mass index (BMI) levels.
The study revealed that all-cause mortality rates decreased annually by three per cent for males and two per cent for females. More notable declines were observed in cardiovascular disease mortality rates, with a seven per cent annual decrease for males and four per cent for females. However, the study also noted an increase in mortality rates from neurological conditions, such as dementia, across all BMI categories.
These findings are particularly relevant amidst ongoing concerns about the impact of obesity on public health. Despite the rising prevalence of obesity—up from 15 per cent of adults in 1993 to 28 per cent in 2019 in England—the decrease in mortality rates suggests improvements in health behaviours and medical treatments. Nevertheless, the higher obesity rates among younger generations indicate potential future public health challenges.
The study's strength lies in its use of a large dataset of 880,683 individuals, though the authors acknowledge that primary care records may not fully represent the entire population. Future research could benefit from more comprehensive datasets and explore the impact of obesity on mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, this study highlights the importance of ongoing public health efforts to address obesity, including promoting healthy diets and lifestyles and improving physical environments.