Deaths attributable to high body mass in Brazil

Abstract

Our study estimated the proportion of deaths from major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that could be prevented in Brazil by reducing population-wide body mass index (BMI) to different counterfactual (optimally theoretical) scenarios. We calculated population-attributable fractions by using BMI data from a representative national survey and relative risks from a published metaanalysis. Reductions in population-wide BMI could prevent 30,715 to 168,431 deaths from NCDs per year in Brazil. Cardiovascular diseases were the most preventable causes of death (5.8%-31.5% deaths prevented). Policies are needed to reduce population-wide BMI in Brazil.