Waist size, mortality risk connected in black women

The risk of death increases with higher levels of excess weight and obesity among African-American women, according to a new study led by researchers from the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University. In addition, a larger waist size was associated with a higher risk of death among women who were not obese. The relationship between body size and risk of death was strongest Researchers evaluated the relationship of body mass index and waist size with risk of death over a 13-year period of follow-up in the Black Women’s Health Study, an ongoing study of 59,000 African-American women from across the United States. The investigators focused on 33,916 women who had never smoked and were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at the beginning of the study.The risk of death was 18% higher The researchers also found that a larger waist size was associated with a higher risk of death among women who were not considered obese a waist size over 35 inches was associated with a 55% higher risk of death.Whereas BMI gives a good estimate of total body fat, waist size provides a measure of the distribution of body fat, specifically abdominal fat. Prior research has suggested that abdominal fat is more metabolically active, plays a role in the development of insulin resistance and may be particularly detrimental to long-term health. In those who are not obese, waist size may be a better indicator of risk Previous findings established that the risk of death increases with higher BMI levels in white populations, but the limited data available on African-Americans indicated that risk of death was increased only at very high levels of BMI.”The present findings indicate that the risk of death in black women increases with increasing BMI of 25 or higher, similar to the pattern in white populations,” said lead author Deborah Boggs, ScD, a postdoctoral associate at Slone. “Our findings highlight the importance The study appears in the Sept. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. To view the data, visit .

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