Longitudinal weight changes over four years and associated health factors in 629 men and women aged over 65.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To assess changes in body weight longitudinally over 4 years in a representative group of men and women aged over 65 years, living in their own homes. (2) To assess whether initial weight (or weight in proportion to skeletal size) was associated with health 4 years later. (3) To assess whether any changes found in body weight were associated with changes in physical or mental health. (4) To compare the cross-sectional age-related changes in weight found in the initial survey with the longitudinal changes found over 4 years.


METHODS
A large randomised age-stratified survey using a structured questionnaire and measurements of body weight and demispan (for skeletal size), with a 4-year follow-up.


METHODS
The survey was conducted in the respondents' own homes.


METHODS
958 subjects age over 65 years, who were recruited from the Nottingham general practitioners' lists, took part in the initial survey; 629 of these subjects completed the second survey 4 years later.


RESULTS
(1) The mean 4-year change in body weight was a small but significant loss; in women (n = 385) it was 1.56kg (P <0.001, 95% CI 1.02-2.10) and in men (n = 244) 0.85kg (P = 0.010, 95% CI 0.21-1.49). (2) Initial weight did not predict mortality, new morbidity nor health 4 years later. (3) There were no robust associations between weight change ans either absolute measures of physical health or changes in these measures. (4) The longitudinal change in weight was similar to that predicted by the cross-sectional data.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Ageing, in old age, is associated with loss of body weight, but with a large intra-individual variation. (2) Neither initial body weight nor the change, was associated with mortality or morbidity over 4 years in a large representative sample of old people living in their own homes in a food-rich country.
Lehmann
A B
AB
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Homerton Hospital, London, UK.
Bassey
E J
EJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss