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Body mass index and weight change since 20 years of age and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese: the Japan Public Health Center-Based Study

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, pages 144–151 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Obesity and weight gain are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease in Western countries. However, their impact is not well elucidated in Asia, where body mass index (BMI) levels are generally lower than in Western countries. We examined associations of BMI (kg/m2) and weight change with risk of coronary heart disease in Japanese people.

Methods and results:

A total of 43 235 men and 47 444 women aged 40–69 years living in communities were followed up from 1990 to 2001 in the Japan Public Health Center-based (JPHC) prospective study . During 879 619 person-years of follow-up, we documented 399 cases of coronary heart disease (334 myocardial infarction and 65 sudden cardiac death) for men and 119 (95 myocardial infarction and 24 sudden cardiac death) for women. Compared with persons with BMI 23.0–24.9, men, but not women, with BMI ⩾30.0 had higher risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction; the multivariable relative risks for men were 1.8 (1.1–3.0) and 1.9 (1.1–3.2), respectively. When weight change was examined according to BMI at age 20 years, men with initial BMI <21.7 who gained more than 10 kg compared with men of no weight change had a twofold higher risk of coronary heart disease. Both men and women with initial BMI ⩾21.7 showed no association between weight loss and the risk.

Conclusions:

High BMI was associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease among men. Also, weight gain was associated with increased risk among lean men.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for cancer research and for the Third-Term Comprehensive Ten-year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. We thank all staff members in each study area and those in the central office for their painstaking efforts to conduct the baseline survey and follow-up.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Medicine, Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki-ken, Japan

    C L Chei & K Yamagishi

  2. Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    H Iso

  3. Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    M Inoue & S Tsugane

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  1. C L Chei
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for the JPHC Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H Iso.

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Study group members

Members of the JPHC prospective study group are as follows: S Tsugane, M Inoue, T Sobue, T Hanaoka, National Cancer Center, Tokyo; J Ogata, S Baba, T Mannami, A Okayama, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita; K Miyakawa, F Saito, A Koizumi, Y Sano, I Hashimoto, Iwate Prefectural Ninohe Public Health Center, Ninohe; Y Miyajima, N Suzuki, S Nagasawa, Y Furusugi, N Nagai, Akita Prefectural Yokote Public Health Center, Yokote; H Sanada, Y Hatayama, F Kobayashi, H Uchino, Y Shirai, T Kondo, R Sasaki, Y Watanabe, Y Miyakawa, Nagano Prefectural Saku Public Health Center, Saku; Y Kishimoto, E Takara, T Fukuyama, M Kinjo, M Irei, H Sakiyama, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Public Health Center, Okinawa; K Imoto, H Yazawa, T Seo, A Seiko, F Ito, F Shoji, Katsushika Public Health Center, Tokyo; A Murata, K Minato, K Motegi, T Fujieda, Ibaraki Prefectural Mito Public Health Center, Mito; K Matsui, T Abe, M Katagiri, Niigata Prefectural Kashiwazaki Public Health Center, Kashiwazaki, M Suzuki, Niigata Prefectural Nagaoka Public Health Center, Nagaoka; M Doi, A Terao, Y Ishikawa, Kochi Prefectural Chuo-Higashi Public Health Center, Tosayamada; H Sueta, H Doi, M Urata, N Okamoto, F Ide, Nagasaki Prefectural Kamigoto Public Health Center, Shinkamigoto; H Sakiyama, N Onga, H Takaesu, Okinawa Prefectural Miyako Public Health Center, Miyakojima; F Horii, I Asano, H Yamaguchi, K Aoki, S Maruyama, M Ichii, Osaka Prefectural Suita Public Health Center, Suita; S Matsushima, S Natsukawa, Saku General Hospital, Saku; M Akabane, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo; M Konishi, K Okada, Ehime University, Matsuyama; H Iso, Osaka University, Osaka; K Tsubono, Tohoku University, Sendai; K Yamagishi, Y Honda, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba; H Sugimura, Hamamatsu University, Hamamatsu; M Kabuto, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba; S Tominaga, Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya; M Iida, W Ajiki, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, Osaka; S Sato, Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion, Osaka; N Yasuda, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku; S Kono, Kyushu University, Fukuoka; K Suzuki, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels Akita, Akita; Y Takashima, Kyorin University, Mitaka; E Maruyama, Kobe University, Kobe; the late M Yamaguchi, S Watanabe, Y Matsumura, S Sasaki, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo; and T Kadowaki, University of Tokyo, Tokyo.

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Chei, C., Iso, H., Yamagishi, K. et al. Body mass index and weight change since 20 years of age and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese: the Japan Public Health Center-Based Study. Int J Obes 32, 144–151 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803686

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