Panel Suggests Methodology Flawed of Recent CDC Obesity Study

[HuckleB]

Panel Suggests Methodology Flawed of Recent CDC Obesity Study

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/505703

"he recent federal study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggesting that extra pounds could be risk free raised concerns by panelists at a meeting yesterday at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in Boston, Massachusetts. The study published in the April 20 issue of JAMA had inspired the popular press to celebrate the prospect of gastronomy without guilt.

The meeting panelists criticized the study's methodology and suggested that the conclusions were biologically implausible and contrary to numerous other analyses.

The study, which was led by Katherine M. Flegal, PhD, of the National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, had found an excess of nearly 112,000 deaths annually among the obese (body mass index , 30 kg/m2). While significant, that was a huge decrease from a CDC study last year, which found an excess of 365,000 deaths in this group, suggesting that obesity was second only to smoking on the list of the top U.S. killers. The Flegal study also found no excess mortality among the overweight (BMI, 25 to <29 kg/m2) as compared with people of normal weight (BMI, 18.5 to <25 kg/m2; -86,094 deaths; 95% confidence interval , -161,223 to -10,966). However, underweight (BMI, <18.5 kg/m2) was associated with 33,746 excess deaths (95% CI, 15,726 - 51,766). The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohorts I, II, and III. The study authors concluded that improvements in public health and healthcare might have reduced obesity's impact on mortality.

JoAnn Manson, MD, MPH, DrPH, a panelist who is professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital told attendees at the meeting that the study's conclusions lacked plausibility given that obesity causes all the elements of metabolic syndrome. Further, she noted that losing weight intentionally mitigated these elements.

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CDC Chief Backs Away From Report On Obesity

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/02/AR2005060201974.html

"Weighing a little too much may not kill you, but there is nothing healthy about it, the head of the nation's health agency said yesterday, distancing herself from a controversial report suggesting that being overweight is not so bad.

Health experts increasingly are faulting a recent study by scientists at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that concluded that obesity is not nearly as dangerous as was thought and that being a little plump may actually lower the risk of death.

At a news conference, CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding acknowledged potential flaws in the study and pledged to get scientists and the public back on track.

"It is not okay to be overweight. People need to be fit, they need to have a healthy diet, they need to exercise," she said. "I'm very sorry for the confusion that these scientific discussions have had."

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