Conclusions
In a study of US national data collected during 2000 to 2006, obesity (BMI 30-<35 kg/m) was not associated with increased mortality risk during up to 6 years of follow-up. Although severe obesity (BMI >35 kg/m) was associated with increased mortality risk, the association was accounted for by coexisting diabetes and hypertension. Finally, the mortality risk of diabetes was lower among both obese and severely obese persons than among those in lower BMI categories. Thus, in this study, the mortality risk associated with obesity was lower than in previous studies, which employed BMI data collected more than 10 years ago.