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New research finds obesity and overweight driving premature heart disease deaths

University of Melbourne researchers have found that more Australians and Americans are dying from cardiovascular disease attributable to excess weight, particularly in younger people.

University of Melbourne researchers warn that this trend will continue without concerted government action that promotes behaviour change. Led by Dr Tim Adair and Professor Alan Lopez, the new study found that there is an accelerating rate of increase in cardiovascular disease mortality in ages 35-74 years related to overweight and obesity in Australia and the US.

As at 2016 in Australia and 2017 in the US, the rate was rising at approximately 3% per annum, following an earlier decline of over 2% per annum in Australia and a period of stagnation in the US. Preliminary data suggest this increase has continued in subsequent years.

The recent rise has been more rapid in younger age groups within the 35-74 bracket, who have experienced relatively high levels of overweight and obesity since childhood.

The study used a novel approach of analysing all the causes reported on death certificates (Multiple Cause of Death data), obtained for deaths in Australia between 2006-16 and in the US between 2000-17, to identify trends in overweight and obesity-related cardiovascular disease mortality.

The researchers identified these deaths as any cardiovascular disease reported on a death certificate with obesity or any other cause strongly associated with overweight and obesity: diabetes, chronic kidney disease, lipidemias or hypertensive heart disease.

Comprising 40% of Australian and 50% of US premature cardiovascular disease mortality, the researchers found overweight and obesity-related mortality rates were increasing faster than other forms of cardiovascular disease mortality.

The US and Australia are the first- and second ranked high-income countries respectively for adult obesity prevalence. In both countries, obesity affects about one-third of the adult population and has increased rapidly in recent decades.

Professor Lopez, Director of Global Burden Disease Group at the University of Melbourne noted "of grave concern is the large increase in obesity-related mortality among younger age groups who have had high levels of overweight and obesity since childhood.

“There may well be a significant adverse impact on mortality in coming years when these cohorts reach older ages where cardiovascular disease mortality is more common.

“If we are to reverse these worrying trends, we will need a strong and comprehensive policy approach that includes health education, taxation strategies, advertising restrictions, food and drink industry regulation and active transport strategies.”

The researchers said that the markedly higher levels of obesity among lower socioeconomic groups suggested that health strategies needed to be more cognisant of broader structural determinants of health.

Dr Adair added “employment, housing, transport, food security, social and economic stress all play a role in this growing health crisis.

“Any efforts to reduce overweight and obesity-related mortality will need to address these factors.”

Without concerted efforts to reduce overweight and obesity, Dr Adair believes that life expectancy in Australia and the US would likely make only modest future gains at best.

Image courtesy of SCIMEX  

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