What is the impact of being overweight? A study conducted in
Sweden spanning almost four decades has suggested that
overweight persons, and not just those who were obese, may also
be subjected to increased risk of premature death. It also
suggested that the adverse effects of excess weight on mortality
may be as significant as smoking cigarettes. Details and
Findings of Study Published in the British Medical Journal, the
study had been conducted using data from Sweden's military
service conscription register, census as well as cause of death
register. In all, after excluding certain persons due to
incomplete data, 45,920 men were tracked for a period of 38
years; the average age of the men at the start of the study was
18.7 years. During the period, 2,897 of the men passed on. Body
Mass Index and Mortality Having accounted for age, socioeconomic
status, muscle strength and smoking, the researchers found that
men who were overweight (body mass index, or BMI, from 25.0 to
29.9) during adolescence at the point t