Normal Weight with Central Obesity, Physical Activity, and Functional Decline: Data from the Osteoarthritis...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Central obesity, defined by high waist circumference (WC), is a growing concern in aging populations.
• Normal body mass index (BMI) can mask underlying health risks associated with central obesity.
• Identifying individuals with normal weight and central obesity (NWCO) is crucial for targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between NWCO and changes in physical activity and function over six years in older adults.
• To determine if NWCO poses a unique risk for functional decline compared to normal BMI and normal WC.
• To explore age-specific effects of NWCO on physical health in individuals at risk for osteoarthritis.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of 2,210 adults aged 60+ at risk for osteoarthritis was conducted.
• Participants were categorized by BMI and WC, with NWCO defined as normal BMI and high WC.
• Six-year changes in physical function (PCS, LL-FDI) and physical activity (PASE) were assessed, with stratified analyses by age.

Main Results:

• Physical component scores, PASE, and LL-FDI generally declined over the six-year study period.
• While mean PASE scores differed between NWCO and normal BMI/normal WC groups, the rate of change was not significantly different.
• Adjusted models revealed that NWCO was associated with a greater decline in PCS, particularly in those aged 70 and older.

Conclusions:

• NWCO in older adults at risk for osteoarthritis may be a significant risk factor for declining physical function and activity.
• The findings suggest that individuals with NWCO, particularly those 70 and older, require targeted interventions.
• Identifying NWCO is valuable for risk stratification, as these individuals may be overlooked by standard BMI-based assessments.