RISK FACTOR CORRELATES OF BODY-MASS INDEX

Objective: To examine the association of obesity, as reflected by body mass index, with other cardiovascular risk factors specifically blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, plasma lipid levels and diabe tes mellitus. Design: Population-based, cross-sectional surveys. Setti ng: Ten Canadian provinces between 1986 and 1992. Participants: A prob ability sample of 29 855 men and women aged 18 to 74 years was selecte d from the health insurance registration files of each province and in vited to participate. Anthropometry was performed on 19 841 (66%) of t hese adults. Outcome measures: Body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), systoli c and diastolic blood pressure, smoking status, level of leisure-time physical activity, self-reported diabetes, levels of plasma total chol esterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low density lipop rotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (TRIG). Results: The preval ence of high blood pressure increased with increasing BMI. The gradien t of increase was steepest for younger (18-34 years) men and women com pared with older (55-74 years) groups. The prevalence of physical inac tivity in women tended to increase with increasing BMI except in the l owest BMI category. The J-shaped relationship, although weaker, was al so seen in men. The prevalence of self reported diabetes mellitus was greater with higher BMI categories at all ages and for both sexes exce pt for the youngest group of men. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was r elated to BMI, as LDL and TRIG levels were higher and HDL levels lower in those with higher BMI. BMI was strongly related to blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and lipid abnormalities. Conclusion: These data sug gest a central role for obesity in cardiovascular risk and the potenti al importance of intervention strategies aimed at reducing population obesity in the management of other cardiovascular risk factors.