The role of overweight and obesity in adverse cardiovascular disease mortality trends: An analysis of multiple cause of death data from Australia and the USA

Abstract

Background: In recent years, there have been adverse trends in premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates (35-74 years) in the USA and Australia. Following long-term declines, rates in the USA are now increasing while falls in Australia have slowed rapidly. These two countries also have the highest adult obesity prevalence of high-income countries. This study investigates the role of overweight and obesity in their recent CVD mortality trends by using multiple cause of death (MCOD) data - direct individual-level evidence from death certificates - and linking the findings to cohort lifetime obesity prevalence. Methods: We identified overweight- and obesity-related mortality as any..