Transcript: The Bell Curve Shift in Modern Populations

This slide from one of Geoffrey Rose’s studies illustrates the shift in the broader distribution of population-level factors contributing to increased body mass index and cardiovascular disease.

The shift took place over time due to social and environmental trends that resulted in populations making unhealthier lifestyle choices, such as decreased physical activity and the increased consumption of processed foods with high levels of fat, sodium and sugar.

Consequently, a ‘normal’ body mass index is now associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Thus, the many people at small-to-moderate risk of heart disease will give rise to more cases of heart disease than the small number of people at high risk of heart disease.