Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24438729›Full record

SynthesisProgress in cardiovascular diseases

Fitness vs. fatness on all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis.

Vaughn W Barry, Meghan Baruth, Michael W Beets, J Larry Durstine, Jihong Liu, Steven N Blair

Abstract readComparative StudyMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Progress in cardiovascular diseases. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 229 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
229citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

229 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Molecular Effects of Physical Activity and Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
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  9. The Benefits of Physical Activity for People with Obesity, Independent of Weight Loss: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
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169 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Vaughn W BarryHealth and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN. Electronic address: Vaughn.Barry@mtsu.edu.
Meghan BaruthHealth Science, Saginaw Valley, State University, University Center, MI.
Michael W BeetsExercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
J Larry DurstineExercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
Jihong LiuEpidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
Steven N BlairExercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to quantify the joint association of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and weight status on mortality from all causes using meta-analytical methodology. Studies were included if they were (1) prospective, (2) objectively measured CRF and body mass index (BMI), and (3) jointly assessed CRF and BMI with all-cause mortality. Ten articles were included in the final analysis. Pooled hazard ratios were assessed for each comparison group (i.e. normal weight-unfit, overweight-unfit and -fit, and obese-unfit and -fit) using a random-effects model. Compared to normal weight-fit individuals, unfit individuals had twice the risk of mortality regardless of BMI. Overweight and obese-fit individuals had similar mortality risks as normal weight-fit individuals. Furthermore, the obesity paradox may not influence fit individuals. Researchers, clinicians, and public health officials should focus on physical activity and fitness-based interventions rather than weight-loss driven approaches to reduce mortality risk.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexCause of DeathCardiovascular DiseasesExercise TestFemaleHealth StatusHeart Function TestsHumansMaleObesityPhysical FitnessProportional Hazards ModelsReference ValuesRisk AssessmentSurvival AnalysisAll-cause mortalityBMIbody mass indexBody mass indexcardiorespiratory fitnessCardiorespiratory fitnessCRFFitness and fatnessObesity paradoxPAphysical activity

Identifiers

PMID24438729

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.