The relationship between body mass index and self-reported functional limitation among older adults: a gender difference - PubMed (original) (raw)
The relationship between body mass index and self-reported functional limitation among older adults: a gender difference
J M Friedmann et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001 Apr.
Abstract
Objectives: To determine whether there is a gender difference in how body mass index (BMI) relates to self-reported functional limitation. Also, to evaluate whether the method of categorizing BMI changes the observed results.
Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.
Setting: Rural Pennsylvania.
Participants: A total of 7,120 male (n = 3,312) and female (n = 3,808) community-dwelling older adults enrolled in a Medicare managed-risk contract.
Measurements: All subjects completed a modified Level II Nutrition Risk Screen upon enrollment in the health plan. Height and weight were obtained by nursing personnel during an enrollment clinic visit. Subjects who reported 10 or more pounds weight loss in the previous 6 months were excluded. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between BMI and self-reported functional limitation separately for each sex, adjusting for age, depression, and polypharmacy. Two schemes were used to categorize BMI: equally distributed sex-specific quintiles and arbitrary division based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) Obesity Guidelines.
Results: How BMI relates to functional limitation depends upon both sex and method of categorizing BMI. When BMI was considered in gender-specific quintiles, women in the highest quintile of BMI had increased risk of functional impairment; there was no relationship between BMI and functional limitation for men. When BMI was categorized by the NIH obesity guidelines, both men and women with BMI >40 had significantly increased risk of functional limitation.
Conclusions: The mechanisms behind gender discrepancy in self-reported functional limitation remain unclear. Studies may need to consider men and women separately, because how BMI relates to function depends on gender. Further research is needed to evaluate how changes in weight and body composition during middle and old age affect functional status.
Similar articles
- Obesity is associated with functional decline in community-dwelling rural older persons.
Jensen GL, Friedmann JM. Jensen GL, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002 May;50(5):918-23. doi: 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50220.x. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002. PMID: 12028181 - Body weight status and onset of functional limitations in U.S. middle-aged and older adults.
An R, Shi Y. An R, et al. Disabil Health J. 2015 Jul;8(3):336-44. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.02.003. Epub 2015 Mar 10. Disabil Health J. 2015. PMID: 25863703 - Physical disability and muscular strength in relation to obesity and different body composition indexes in a sample of healthy elderly women.
Zoico E, Di Francesco V, Guralnik JM, Mazzali G, Bortolani A, Guariento S, Sergi G, Bosello O, Zamboni M. Zoico E, et al. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Feb;28(2):234-41. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802552. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004. PMID: 14708033 - Weight change, weight change intention, and the incidence of mobility limitation in well-functioning community-dwelling older adults.
Lee JS, Kritchevsky SB, Tylavsky F, Harris T, Simonsick EM, Rubin SM, Newman AB; Health ABC Study. Lee JS, et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005 Aug;60(8):1007-12. doi: 10.1093/gerona/60.8.1007. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005. PMID: 16127104 - Screening and Interventions for Childhood Overweight [Internet].
Whitlock EP, Williams SB, Gold R, Smith P, Shipman S. Whitlock EP, et al. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2005 Jul. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2005 Jul. PMID: 20722132 Free Books & Documents. Review.
Cited by
- Physical activity, balance, and bicycling in older adults.
Baughn M, Arellano V, Hawthorne-Crosby B, Lightner JS, Grimes A, King G. Baughn M, et al. PLoS One. 2022 Dec 8;17(12):e0273880. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273880. eCollection 2022. PLoS One. 2022. PMID: 36480563 Free PMC article. - Obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults.
Rejeski WJ, Marsh AP, Chmelo E, Rejeski JJ. Rejeski WJ, et al. Obes Rev. 2010 Sep;11(9):671-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00679.x. Obes Rev. 2010. PMID: 19922431 Free PMC article. Review. - Relative contributions of adiposity and muscularity to physical function in community-dwelling older adults.
Jankowski CM, Gozansky WS, Van Pelt RE, Schenkman ML, Wolfe P, Schwartz RS, Kohrt WM. Jankowski CM, et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 May;16(5):1039-44. doi: 10.1038/oby.2007.84. Epub 2008 Feb 21. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008. PMID: 18292753 Free PMC article. - Obesity and fracture risk.
Gonnelli S, Caffarelli C, Nuti R. Gonnelli S, et al. Clin Cases Miner Bone Metab. 2014 Jan;11(1):9-14. doi: 10.11138/ccmbm/2014.11.1.009. Clin Cases Miner Bone Metab. 2014. PMID: 25002873 Free PMC article. Review. - Addressing Obesity to Promote Healthy Aging.
Roderka MN, Puri S, Batsis JA. Roderka MN, et al. Clin Geriatr Med. 2020 Nov;36(4):631-643. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2020.06.006. Epub 2020 Aug 16. Clin Geriatr Med. 2020. PMID: 33010899 Free PMC article. Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources