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The bidirectional association between body weight and mobility disability: A population-based cohort
Jeroen S de Munter1, Per Tynelius1, Gerd Ahlström2
1Child and Adolescent Public Health Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
Disability and Health Journal
|August 17, 2016
Summary
Obesity increases the risk of developing mobility disability, particularly in middle-aged women. Both conditions can worsen over time, highlighting the need for targeted health strategies for vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Obesity is more prevalent in individuals with mobility disability.
- Longitudinal factors contributing to this association are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional relationship between obesity and mobility disability.
- To explore how these conditions influence each other over time.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Stockholm Public Health Cohort (2002-2010, n=17,945).
- Exclusion of participants with specific pre-existing conditions (e.g., cancer, eating disorders).
- Self-reported data on mobility disability, height, and weight; multivariate-adjusted regression models used.
Main Results:
- Obesity at baseline was linked to incident mobility disability, with highest risk in middle-aged women (RR=3.95).
- Individuals with long-term or incident mobility disability showed increased Body Mass Index (BMI) over time compared to controls.
- Specific BMI increases varied by age and sex.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated bidirectional and longitudinal links between body weight and mobility disability.
- Individuals are at increased risk of developing both conditions over time.
- Urgent need for health promotion and prevention strategies for these vulnerable groups.
