Drug Medical Information

WEIGHT PROBLEMS: ALL OBESITY IS RISKY

Even for pears, there comes a point when too much poundage takes it toll.

That fact comes from the Framing-ham Heart Study of 5,200 men and women living in Framingham, Massachusetts. It began in 1948 and is now researching two generations of subjects. Dr. William Castelli is the medical director of the project, which receives financial support from the federal government and support staff from Boston University. Says Dr. Castelli: "By becoming obese - even without developing the risk factors of raised levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, and uric acid - eventually you still pay a price. You still get more strokes and heart attacks. It just takes a bit longer for them to develop." In fact, he adds, in a study of men and women aged 30 to 40, it was found that such life-threatening conditions occur in about 8 years in obese men, about 14 years in obese women.

One study tracked women, aged 30 to 60, who weighed at least 30 percent more than recommended by the height/ weight tables. After 26 years of study, data showed they suffered twice as many heart problems as did women of desirable weight. "Extra weight is one of the worst risk factors we have for disease," Dr. Castelli says. "We are one of the fattest countries on earth. We're committing national suicide."

A National Institutes of Health panel concluded that 15 percent of American adults carry enough flab to put them at risk for major health problems. Dr. Kirschner says that if you weigh 20 percent more than the height/weight tables recommend, you're at risk.

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