Fatness and mortality in the West of Scotland.

Sixteen-yr mortality data for 2381 males between the ages of 45 to 75 from the West of Scotland show that the lean rather than the obese have a higher mortality rate. However, analyzed by cause of death, it is seen that lean individuals show an excess of cancer-related deaths while obese individuals show excess cardiovascular mortality. Comparing smoking and nonsmoking males, the deleterious effects of smoking are clearly demonstrable at all fatness levels. Since obese males have a higher cardiovascular mortality and lean males show an excess of cancer-related deaths, the notion of a single "ideal weight" may be challenged.