title: Body-mass index and 4-year change in health-related quality of life.
abstract: 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.
authors: Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Regenstrief Institute for Health Care, Indianapolis, IN. tdamush@regenstrief.org
authors: Teresa M
authors: TM
authors: Damush
authors: Timothy E
authors: TE
authors: Stump
authors: Daniel O
authors: DO
authors: Clark
mesh_terms: 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