Background To our knowledge, no single investigation concerning the long-term effects of
overweight status on the risk for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and
cardiovascular sequelae has been reported. Methods Relations between categories of body
mass index (BMI), cardiovascular disease risk factors, and vascular disease end points were
examined prospectively in Framingham Heart Study participants aged 35 to 75 years, who
were followed up to 44 years. The primary outcome was new cardiovascular disease, which …