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Regular vigorous physical activity and disability development in healthy overweight and normal-weight seniors: a
Bonnie Bruce1, James F Fries, Helen Hubert
1Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University 1000 Welch Rd, Suite 203, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. bbruce@stanford.edu
Objectives:
We examined the relationship of regular exercise and body weight to disability among healthy seniors.
Methods:
We assessed body mass index (BMI) and vigorous exercise yearly (1989-2002) in 805 participants aged 50 to 72 years at enrollment. We studied 4 groups: normal-weight active (BMI< 25 kg/m(2); exercise> 60 min/wk); normal-weight inactive (exercise
Results:
The cohort was 72% men and 96% White, with a mean age of 65.2 years. After 13 years, overweight active participants had significantly less disability than did overweight inactive (0.14 vs 0.19; P= .001) and normal-weight inactive (0.22; P= .03) participants. Similar differences were found between normal-weight active (0.11) and normal-weight inactive participants (P< .001).
Conclusions:
Being physically active mitigated development of disability in these seniors, largely independent of BMI. Public health efforts that promote physically active lifestyles among seniors may be more successful than those that emphasize body weight in the prevention of functional decline.
