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The association between body-mass index and mortality in women, focusing on underweight and low-normal weight women

Approved: 2017

Collaborators:

  • Ms Alison Griffin
  • Prof Annette Dobson
  • Prof Gita Mishra
  • Dr Mark Jones

Synopsis

Many studies have found that older people who are underweight (body mass index (BMI) <18.5kg/m2) have a higher mortality rate (i.e. die at a higher rate) than those with healthy or overweight BMI. The underweight are more likely to be smokers and have poor health, but while controlling for these factors reduces the size of the association between BMI and mortality, it does not eliminate it. This project will investigate the association between BMI and mortality in women, describe the characteristics of underweight women, and investigate additional factors contributing to mortality in the underweight.