Determinants and Consequences of Obesity

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 106; no. 9; pp. 1656 - 1662
• Main Authors: Hruby, Adela, Manson, JoAnn E, Qi, Lu, Malik, Vasanti S, Rimm, Eric B, Sun, Qi, Willett, Walter C, Hu, Frank B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Public Health Association 01-09-2016
• Subjects: Adult; AJPH Special Section: NHS Contributions; Beverages; Body mass index; Built environment; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Chronic Disease; Chronic illnesses; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - etiology; Diet; Epidemiologic Studies; Exercise/Physical Activity; Female; Fruit juices; Genetic factors; Genetics; Grain; Health care; Health risk assessment; Humans; Life Style; Lifestyles; Longitudinal Studies; Middle age; Middle Aged; Mortality; Mortality, Premature; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - etiology; Nurses; Nutrition/Food; Nuts; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity/Overweight/Underweight; Oils & fats; Overweight; Prevention; Prospective Studies; Public health; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Sedentary Lifestyle; Self report; Shift work; Studies; United States - epidemiology; Urban environments; Weight control; Women's Health; Womens health; Working conditions; United States > US
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303326

To review the contribution of the Nurses' Health Studies (NHS and NHS II) in addressing hypotheses regarding risk factors for and consequences of obesity.
Narrative review of the publications of the NHS and NHS II between 1976 and 2016.
Long-term NHS research has shown that weight gain and being overweight or obese are important risk factors for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancers, and premature death. The cohorts have elucidated the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in obesity, especially sugar-sweetened beverages, poor diet quality, physical inactivity, prolonged screen time, short sleep duration or shift work, and built environment characteristics. Genome-wide association and gene-lifestyle interaction studies have shown that genetic factors predispose individuals to obesity but that such susceptibility can be attenuated by healthy lifestyle choices. This research has contributed to evolving clinical and public health guidelines on the importance of limiting weight gain through healthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors.
The NHS cohorts have contributed to our understanding of the risk factors for and consequences of obesity and made a lasting impact on clinical and public health guidelines on obesity prevention.