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Age, body mass index, and functional illness
1Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. ferraro@purdue.edu
Summary
Both underweight and obese individuals experience higher functional illness. Obesity is linked to increased hospitalization and functional limitations, particularly in younger and middle-aged adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key indicator of nutritional status.
- Functional illness impacts daily living and healthcare utilization.
- Understanding the relationship between BMI and functional illness across age groups is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and functional illness.
- To determine if the BMI-functional illness relationship differs by age, specifically in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a national, longitudinal survey of noninstitutionalized adults.
- Examined four distinct measures of functional illness.
- Employed Tobit and Poisson regression models for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
Main Results:
- A non-linear relationship was observed between BMI and functional illness at baseline, with both underweight and obese individuals reporting higher levels.
- Longitudinal analyses indicated that obesity was associated with increased hospitalization and days spent ill in bed.
- Obesity also correlated with a greater increase in functional limitations over time.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is demonstrably linked to functional illness.
- The study found no evidence that the BMI-functional illness relationship is amplified in advanced age.
- Conversely, the impact of obesity on certain functional illness measures appears more pronounced in younger and middle-aged adults.