Obesity, Physical Function, and Mortality in... : Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (original) (raw)

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

56

(

8

)

:p

1474

-

1478

,

August 2008

.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the effects of excess body weight on objective and subjective physical function and mortality risks in noninstitutionalized older adults.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

SETTING

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).

PARTICIPANTS

Three thousand seven hundred ninety-three participants in the ELSA aged 65 and older followed up for 5 years.

MEASUREMENTS

Analyses compared the risks of impaired physical function and mortality for subjects who were at the recommended weight (body mass index (BMI)=20.0–24.9) with those who were overweight (BMI=25.0–29.9), obese (BMI=30.0–34.9) or severely obese (BMI≥35.0). Outcome measures were difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs), score on the Short Physical Performance Battery, and mortality.

RESULTS

Participants in higher BMI categories had greater risk of impaired physical function at follow-up but little or no greater risk of mortality. For example, compared with men of recommended weight, obese men (BMI=30.0–34.9) had relative risk ratios of difficulties with ADLs of 1.99 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42–2.78), of measured functional impairment of 1.51 (95% CI=1.05–2.16), and of mortality of 0.99 (95% CI=0.60–1.61). Findings were robust when excluding those who lost weight, smoked, or had poor self-rated health.

CONCLUSION

Excess body weight in people aged 65 and older is associated with greater risk of impaired physical function but not with greater mortality risk. Societies with growing numbers of overweight and obese older people are likely to face increasing burdens of disability-associated health and social care costs.