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Published on: September 30, 2020
Obesity and functional disability in elderly Americans.
1Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. chenh2@niehs.nih.gov
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|February 13, 2008
Summary
Obesity indicators like body mass index and waist circumference are linked to increased functional disabilities in older American women and men. Waist circumference was a stronger predictor of disability in women.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Obesity is a growing public health concern, particularly among the elderly population.
- Understanding the relationship between obesity and functional decline is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between obesity indicators and functional disabilities in elderly American adults.
- To compare the strength of association between body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference with various functional limitations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004.
- Inclusion of 1,684 elderly women and 1,611 elderly men (aged 60 and above).
- Assessment of functional disabilities across multiple domains, including activities of daily living, mobility, and physical activity.
Main Results:
- In women, higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were significantly associated with increased prevalence of all functional disabilities.
- Women in the highest waist circumference quartile showed substantially higher odds of disability in activities of daily living, mobility, and physical activity compared to the lowest quartile.
- While associations were less pronounced in men, significant links were observed for certain functional domains, particularly mobility and physical activity.
- These associations persisted even after accounting for major chronic conditions, and waist circumference emerged as a stronger predictor than BMI in women.
Conclusions:
- Obesity indicators are demonstrably related to functional disabilities in elderly Americans.
- Waist circumference may be a more sensitive marker than BMI for predicting functional decline in older women.
- Findings underscore the importance of weight management in preserving functional independence in the aging population.
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