Body mass index and stroke: overweight and obesity less often associated with stroke recurrence

Although obesity is associated with excess mortality and morbidity, mortality is lower in obese than in normal weight stroke patients (the obesity paradox). Studies now indicate that obesity is not associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke in the years after first stroke. We studied the association between body mass index (BMI) and stroke patient's risk of having a history of previous stroke (recurrent stroke).