Relationship between body mass index and different domains of disability in older persons: the 3C study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and different domains of disability in elderly subjects from the French 3C study.


METHODS
Three cities in France: Bordeaux (South-West), Dijon (North-East) and Montpellier (South-East).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A sample of 8966 elderly community dwellers (age: 65-101 y).


METHODS



METHODS
BMI, continence, basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL and IADL) and mobility. Adjustment variables: age, educational level, lifestyle, cognitive functioning, smoking and drinking history, depression, dyspnea, diabetes and indicator of cardiovascular disease.


RESULTS
Obesity (BMI> or =30 kg/m2) was significantly associated with disability in each domain for women. The relationship tended to be linear for ADL and for continence; whereas for IADL, underweight women (BMI <21 kg/m2) were also at higher risk of disability. In men, relationships were weaker since BMI was only associated with mobility restriction, with a higher risk for both underweight and obese subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are in favor of a strong association between obesity and the three domains of disability and incontinence. Weaker relationships between underweight and disability were observed. Results suggest that maintaining a BMI in the healthy range could contribute to independence in activities of daily living.
Epidemiology Research Unit, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U 593, 33 076 Bordeaux, France. Sophie.Larrieu@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
S
S
Larrieu
K
K
Pérès
L
L
Letenneur
C
C
Berr
J F
JF
Dartigues
K
K
Ritchie
B
B
Février
A
A
Alpérovitch
P
P
Barberger-Gateau
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D016138:Walking