Characteristics of study participants by body mass index in 1991, Nurses' Health Study II*
| Body mass index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <25.0 | 25.0–29.9 | 30.0–34.9 | ≥35.0 | |
| n | 58 947 | 18 225 | 7144 | 4733 |
| Age,† mean (SD), years | 35.9 (4.6) | 36.6 (4.7) | 37.0 (4.6) | 37.3 (4.4) |
| Current smokers (yes, %) | 11.3 | 12.1 | 11.4 | 10.9 |
| Alcohol intake, g/day, mean (SD) | 3.5 (6.3) | 2.8 (6.0) | 2.0 (5.0) | 1.6 (4.7) |
| Vigorous physical activity, metabolic equivalent hours/week, mean (SD) | 15.3 (24.3) | 11.6 (19.2) | 9.4 (16.1) | 7.5 (14.2) |
| Height, inches, mean (SD) | 64.9 (2.5) | 64.8 (2.7) | 64.7 (2.7) | 64.7 (3.0) |
| Weight at age 18 years, lb, mean (SD) | 120.7 (15.4) | 133.0 (20.5) | 143.8 (25.3) | 161.8 (33.3) |
| Weight change from age 18 years, lb, mean (SD) | 9.3 (13.4) | 28.8 (18.4) | 47.9 (23.1) | 75.9 (33.9) |
| Waist circumference, inches, mean (SD) | 28.8 (3.1) | 33.5 (3.9) | 37.9 (4.5) | 42.8 (5.7) |
| Hip circumference, inches, mean (SD) | 37.5 (2.6) | 41.7 (3.3) | 45.6 (3.9) | 51.0 (5.4) |
| Waist–hip ratio, mean (SD) | 0.77 (0.07) | 0.81 (0.08) | 0.83 (0.08) | 0.84 (0.09) |
| Mental health index ≤52 (yes, %)‡ | 12.2 | 14.1 | 15.9 | 17.4 |
| Antidepressant use (yes, %)‡ | 9.6 | 11.5 | 13.5 | 17.1 |
| Postmenopausal (yes, %) | 3.1 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 5.6 |
| Personal history of chronic diseases (yes, %) | ||||
| Diabetes | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 2.6 |
| Cancer | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| Hypertension | 1.6 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 14.7 |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | 7.3 | 11.7 | 16.3 | 16.9 |