Body-mass index and 4-year change in health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of body-mass index (BMI) categories (a proxy for adiposity) on 4-year changes in health-related quality of life (HRQL) independent of baseline disease severity.


METHODS
Secondary analyses of a prospective, longitudinal study.


METHODS
Data on 7,895 adults ages 51 to 61 years who responded to the Health and Retirement Surveys in 1992, 1994, and 1996 were included.


RESULTS
Estimates of the effect of BMI on changes in HRQL were adjusted by disease severity. Each BMI category was associated with an increasing risk of decline in perceived health, with the highest risk in the higher categories. A BMI of between 30 and 35 was associated with a risk of decline in mobility.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest a significant impact of BMI on changes in HRQL that is independent of disease severity and baseline HRQL.
Damush
Teresa M
TM
Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, Indianapolis, IN. tdamush@regenstrief.org
Stump
Timothy E
TE
Clark
Daniel O
DO
D015992:Body Mass Index; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States