Latest news with #mortality
Fox News
6 hours ago
- Health
- Fox News
Body fat predicts major health risk that BMI misses, researchers say
Body mass index (BMI) may not be the most accurate predictor of death risk. A new study from the University of Florida found that BMI — a measurement that is commonly used to determine whether a person's weight is in a healthy range for their height — is "deeply flawed" in terms of predicting mortality. Instead, one's level of body fat is "far more accurate," concluded the study, which was published this week in the Annals of Family Medicine. To measure participants' body fat, the researchers used a method called bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), which uses a device to measure the resistance of body tissue to a small electrical current. Over a 15-year period, those who had high body fat were found to be 78% more likely to die than those who had healthy body fat levels, researchers found. They were also more than three times as likely to die of heart disease, the study noted. BMI — which is calculated by dividing weight by height, squared — was described as "entirely unreliable" in predicting the risk of death over a 15-year period from any cause. The study included 4,252 people in the U.S. and pulled data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. BMI should not be relied upon as a "vital sign" of health, according to senior author Frank Orlando, M.D., medical director of UF Health Family Medicine in Springhill. "I'm a family physician, and on a regular basis, we're faced with patients who have diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other conditions that are related to obesity," Orlando said in a press release for the study. "One of the routine measures we take alongside traditional vital signs is BMI. We use BMI to screen for a person having an issue with their body composition, but it's not as accurate for everyone as vital signs are," he added. BMI has been the international standard for measuring obesity since the 1980s, according to many sources, though some experts have questioned its validity. "I think the study shows it's time to go to an alternative that is now proven to be far better at the job." An individual is considered obese if their BMI is 30 or above, overweight if it is between 25 and 29.9, of "normal" weight in the range of 18.5 to 24.9, or underweight if lower than 18.5. While BMI is easy to calculate, one of its main limitations is that it cannot distinguish between muscle and fat mass, the researchers noted. "For example, people who are bodybuilders can really elevate their body mass index," Orlando said. "But they're healthy even with a BMI indicating that they're obese." "BMI is just so ingrained in how we think about body fat," Mainous added. "I think the study shows it's time to go to an alternative that is now proven to be far better at the job." Other methods, such as a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan, may be even more accurate than BIA, but are much more expensive and not as accessible, the researchers noted. "If you talk to obesity researchers, they're going to say you have to use the DEXA scan because it's the most accurate," Mainous said in the release. "And that's probably true. But it's never going to be viable in a doctor's office or family practice." Dr. Stephen Vogel — a family medicine physician with PlushCare, a virtual health platform with primary care, therapy and weight management options — echoed the limitations of BMI. "It has been an easy measurement tool that helps us understand at-risk groups across various populations and demographics, but it doesn't provide accurate data from patient to patient," the North Carolina-based doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "These findings don't challenge the assumptions about BMI — they strengthen the message that new standards, delivered in a consistent and low-cost way, would provide better nuance for the individual when it comes to their overall physical health." "The main strengths of this study are a better correlation to an individual's risk of morbidity and mortality — however, the limitations lie in the fact that we don't have enough data to determine the right cutoff for these numbers, or to identify the right tools that will be both accurate and precise across the population," Vogel said. The researchers also acknowledged that body fat percentage thresholds haven't yet been as standardized as BMI and waist circumference. Also, the age range of the participants in the study was limited by the data source. "Future studies should extend this comparison of body fat to BMI in older adults," the researchers wrote. The study was also limited by focusing only on mortality as an outcome, they noted, without taking into account any developing diseases — such as heart failure or cancer — that could deepen the understanding of body fat as a risk factor. The goal, according to Vogel, is to have a cost-effective, consistent method that can be used across the population with reliable accuracy. "These data will drive better discussions in the doctor's office, as well as public health initiatives with the goal of improving the health of all." "Benefits would come in the form of a more detailed list of information that helps providers and patients make informed decisions about the patient's health, which is ideal," Vogel noted. "I'm hopeful there's enough buzz around these measures that steps will continue to be taken toward regular implementation." For more Health articles, visit The researchers are hopeful that once standards are validated, measuring body fat percentage with bioelectrical impedance analysis could become standard of care. They added, "These data will drive better discussions in the doctor's office, as well as public health initiatives with the goal of improving the health of all."
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Cheeky 12pm habit Aussies need to stop
A recent study has shown that napping during certain hours of the day could be associated with an increased risk of death. According to the research published in the journal Sleep, data from wearable activity trackers showed that nap duration and timing were related to increased all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults. Specifically, naps taken around the middle of the day were linked to a higher risk of death. This development brings scientists closer to understanding whether certain napping habits should raise concerns about a person's health. 'Our study fills a gap in knowledge by showing that not just whether someone naps, but how long, how variable, and when they nap during the day may be meaningful indicators of future health risk,' said lead study author Chenlu Gao, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told Health. 'Past studies have relied on self-reported nap habits, which are subject to recall bias.' Study links naps with mortality According to Mrs Gao, numerous studies have explored the link between night-time sleep and mortality. However, she and her colleagues have 'long been interested in understanding daytime napping and its impact on health'. 'We saw a critical need to investigate whether objectively assessed napping behaviours are associated with longevity,' she explained. The team analysed data from 86,565 non-shift working adults, aged 43 to 79 (with an average of 63), who were part of the UK Biobank, a comprehensive biomedical database. Fifty-seven per cent of these participants were women. They wore a device that tracked their rest and activity levels for seven days, with napping defined as any sleep occurring between 9am and 7pm. During the 11-year follow-up period, 5819 of the study participants had died. Researchers identified a higher risk of death associated with three factors: longer naps, greater day-to-day variability in nap length, and more naps around noon and early afternoon. These associations remained true even after adjusting for factors such as body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and overnight sleep duration. While the study established a correlation between different napping habits and mortality, it is crucial to note that it did not prove that napping causes an increased risk of death. It is also uncertain whether these findings apply to the general population. Why might napping be linked to mortality? Currently, as there is no definitive evidence that naps directly cause increased mortality, sleep experts are examining the research for clues — and some suggest that the underlying reasons for napping may be more relevant. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea or medical conditions that drain energy, like heart disease, could actually be the underlying cause of the nap-mortality connection. The study did attempt to account for lifestyle factors, but it remains difficult to control for undiagnosed medical conditions. Other experts propose that long, irregular midday naps could influence health by disrupting circadian rhythms, which are the body's internal sleep-wake cycles. This disruption could affect various factors that influence mortality, such as inflammation, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. Should we nap? If you feel the need to nap, experts recommend aiming for less than 30 minutes, as this allows you to feel refreshed and energised without experiencing grogginess. Napping earlier in the day can also help prevent your nap from interfering with your ability to sleep at night. If you find yourself napping more frequently or for longer periods, you should consult your doctor.
New York Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Pep Guardiola and the age of football amnesia
When Keanu Reeves was doing press for Bill & Ted Face the Music in 2020, he had to explain the narrative tension underpinning the film. In essence, it was about facing your own mortality. Bill and Ted had failed to write a song that would unite the world. This had consequences for them and their families. They now had to come up with one to save the universe — otherwise it would end. Advertisement After giving a light-hearted, semi-serious answer in keeping with his character Ted, Reeves was asked a serious follow-up question by the late-night host Stephen Colbert: 'What do you think happens when we die?' Reeves leaned back, inhaled, thought about it for a second and gave an unexpectedly excellent and profound answer. 'I know that the ones who love us will miss us,' he said, a sweet and moving sentiment. Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola doesn't seem to share it. In the build-up to the FA Cup final in May, Guardiola did not get the same question as Reeves. But he did reflect on his life and legacy up until now. 'When we die,' he said. 'Our families cry for two or three days and then that's it — you're forgotten. In the careers of coaches, there are good and bad ones, the important thing is that the good ones are remembered.' Guardiola's place in football history is assured. He has won trebles, plural. He is credited with changing the game. The Spanish and German national teams lifted the World Cup during his time working in their leagues, an indicator of his influence. England have yet to do so. Next year perhaps? Regardless of whether England do or not, Guardiola's eight seasons with City have undeniably altered the football landscape in the U.K. And yet, his bleak outlook on remembrance appears to have been greatly shaped by how quick some corners of the football world were to forget Istanbul and the treble of 2023. How much of that was City-specific — Wasn't it about time they did it? — is one thing. How much of it is due to our ever-decreasing attention spans is another. As the calendar gets more congested, teams play more and more games and the turnaround time from one season to another shortens, football is, perhaps, entering its own age of digital amnesia — the phenomenon whereby the abundance of information on the internet is apparently affecting our ability to retain and remember it. Advertisement Every game risks becoming like a reel on Instagram or a TikTok video. We scroll through it, laugh or smile, share it, forget it, go blank. Onto the next one. Wydad, Al-Ain, Juventus again. They played each other in December, didn't they? Yes, in the new, extended Champions League 'League Phase'? Feels like another season ago, doesn't it. Dusan Vlahovic scored. Weston McKennie too. Remember it well? Prior to City and Juventus meeting in Orlando, Guardiola was asked by a reporter from La Repubblica about the Club World Cup and how invested he is in winning it. 'Well, now we're here we want to do well. I don't know,' he said in Italian. 'Maybe after two or three days at the end of the tournament it'll be forgotten.' Covered by the sands of time, buried by the scirocco of a new season, the golden edge of a Tiffany trophy poking through a dune as the Premier League nears on the horizon. After all, there's Wolves away already on August 16. If City win the Club World Cup, it will no doubt be a source of pride within the club. But Guardiola is probably right. The newness of the competition and the dismissive reception of the Club World Cup back in the UK — being able to say you're world champion seemed to mean little to English clubs even in the smaller, old format — mean it probably wouldn't be heralded as significant. That's in part the island mentality of England, the belief our competition is best and its only rival is the Champions League, not the Club World Cup. Not yet. 'I don't think we should ever live thinking about whether we're going to be remembered,' Guardiola said in that interview in May. So what's the purpose? Why renew for another two years? Does Guardiola keep doing what he does because he doesn't know anything else? Only football. Or is there meaning beyond being remembered? Advertisement Guardiola said after City's 5-2 win over Juventus his players made a statement to themselves. The challenge this coming season, he added, is to redefine themselves too. Whether people remember City's season or not is out of his control. The 6-0 against Wydad and 2-0 over Al Ain isn't and while they will be swiftly forgotten, they are part of the process he is overseeing. The bigger question is more for us — and the football calendar: Less still feels like more. Meaning isn't to be found in the many, but the few. More than amnesia, there is nostalgia for how the game used to be; smaller World Cups, shorter seasons, competitions that genuinely did boast the best teams from their respective continents. What will happen to football then if it dies? It won't perish, surely. The game goes on and on. But if it did, the ones who loved it will probably remember those, apparently, better days when the memories made were memories that lasted.
Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Hollywood Is Having a Boy-Mom Moment
In '28 Years Later,' the new zombie movie from director Danny Boyle, the undead all but disappear for a pivotal stretch toward the end of the film. That's when it becomes a five-hankie movie about a boy grappling with his mom's mortality. 'It sets out as everybody wants it to, with lots of male action and bonding, and then it begins to shift,' said Boyle. 'There's a spiritual thing that his mother teaches him.'
Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Patient Survival Jumps If In-Hospital MD Aced Assessment Test: Study
Patients are significantly likelier to survive a hospital stay if their hospitalist scored in the ... More top quartile on a knowledge test linked to board certification. The odds that a patient survives a hospital stay sharply increase if the physician overseeing in-hospital care aced a special test designed to assess doctor knowledge and judgment, according to a new study. The study found that patients of hospitalists who placed in the top quartile of a professional exam from the American Board of Internal Medicine were nearly 8% less likely to die within a week than the patients of doctors with lower scores. In an interview, Furman McDonald, a hospital medicine specialist who's president and chief executive officer of ABIM, emphasized that the actual number of patient lives affected by the relative difference among physicians was 'massively significant.' 'The absolute difference in mortality is about four people per thousand hospital admissions,' said McDonald. 'By way of comparison, the mortality from cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in this country, is about two patients per thousand. So this is a massively significant result.' Assessing Knowledge The professional exam, known as the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment, is given quarterly and is designed to both assess physician clinical knowledge and encourage learning. Every five years, ABIM determines whether the physician maintains board certification – a prestigious designation that also has concrete economic value. The study examined the medical records of more than 260,000 Medicare patients and the test scores of more than 4,000 physicians specializing in hospital medicine. If all hospitalized patients had fared as well as those cared for by physicians who achieved the top quartile in knowledge and judgment, 1,069 lives would have been saved yearly just considering the first week of care, the study's lead author, ABIM health economist Bradley Gray, said in an interview. Top scorers also had fewer readmissions, suggesting fewer complications. 'The patient has a better prognosis if the doctor knows more,' said McDonald. The expertise of the doctor really matters." The predictive value of tests of doctor knowledge has known for decades and has been repeatedly reaffirmed in focused studies involving hundreds of thousands of patients and many different specialties, McDonald said. This study, published as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine, was designed to assess whether the results of this newer exam correlated with better patient outcomes. The connection between ABIM board certification and patient outcomes, if substantiated for all the subspecialties the ABIM certifies, could easily affect many millions of Americans. The group oversees some 270,000 physicians practicing in 22 different subspecialties. A previous study sponsored by the ABIM found that the score on its exam for internal medicine trainees applying for certification for the first time was also associated with improved patient outcomes and reduced readmissions. McDonald says the group plans to continue its test assessment effort. One notable feature of this study was a methodology that allowed researchers to compare different doctors as if they were working in the same hospital so as to minimize any influence the facility might have on outcomes. In addition, various adjustments to reduce the risk of misleading conclusions meant the researchers were 'underestimating the extent to which the higher scores are flags of quality,' said Gray. 'We really wanted to have a believable research design.' Open Book Beats Closed Room Before the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment exam was instituted as an option in 2022, all physicians seeking to be recertified by the ABIM took a detailed, all-day test in a controlled environment every ten years. The LKA, in contrast, is a 30-question, open-book exam given every quarter, with a dashboard telling the doctor the correct answer to each question and, in detail, how they fared in comparison to the ABIM certification standard and their peers. That continual feedback is meant to prompt focused improvement before the recertification test, which is given every five years. McDonald acknowledged he was 'stunned' when a clinical trial the group ran to evaluate alternative approaches to administering the new test showed that the open-book approach most produced results most likely to accurately discriminate among different clinicians. 'It was better able to tell the doctors who knew less from the doctors who knew more,' said McDonald. 'It was amazing.' The approach worked, McDonald suggested, because of the way the questions are designed. ABIM spends a substantial amount of time and money developing and validating realistic clinical vignettes. The goal is for the answers to reflect reliable judgment, not rote knowledge. 'It turns out the doctors who know more are even able to know what to look up and how to look it up,' McDonald said. Thus far, use of artificial intelligence chatbots has not been a problem, but the group is closely monitoring the potential for abuse. Physicians seeking board certification are highly motivated to learn how to be better doctors, Gray and McDonald both noted. Over time, looking at how doctors' scores change and evolve, 'we'll be able to see whether learning results in improvement in patient care,' Gray said.
