Year: 2010 Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, v.172, no.8, (September 9, 2010), p.900-904 SIEC No: 20110075

A series of prospective studies have found body mass index to be inversely associated with risk of suicide. In the progression from disturbed mental health to suicide ideation to attempted suicide & suicide, augmented by impulsivity & access to highly lethal means, there are several potential steps at which body mass index has been hypothesized to lower risk. More evidence exists to suggest that greater body weight reduces the case fatality of poisonings & shifts suicidal acts away from selected high lethal means. In the absence of longitudinal studies with repeated measures of weight, mental health, & suicide ideation, it remains difficult to exclude the possibility of residual confounding, particularly by psychiatric disorders that could lead to both weight loss & suicide ideation. (36 refs.) JA

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