title: Unhealthy lifestyles during the life course: association with physical decline in late life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at examining the association between unhealthy lifestyle in young age, midlife and/or old age and physical decline in old age, and between chronic exposure to an unhealthy lifestyle throughout life and physical decline in old age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample included 1297 respondents of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Lifestyle in old age (55-85 y) was assessed at baseline, whereas lifestyle in young age (around 25 y) and midlife (around 40 y) were assessed retrospectively. Lifestyle factors included physical activity, body mass index (BMI), number of alcohol drinks per week and smoking. Physical decline was calculated as a change in physical performance score between baseline and six-year followup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the lifestyle factors present in old age, a BMI of 25-29 vs BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR=1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.2) and a BMI of > or = 30 vs BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.7) were associated with physical decline in old age. Being physically inactive in old age was not significantly associated with an increased risk of physical decline, although, being physically inactive in both midlife and old age increased the odds of physical decline in old age to 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.4), compared with respondents who were physically inactive in midlife and physically active in old age. Being overweight in both age periods was associated with an OR of 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that overweight in old age, and chronic exposure to physical inactivity or overweight throughout life, increases the risk of physical decline in old age. Therefore, physical activity and prevention of excessive weight at all ages should be stimulated, to prevent physical decline in old age.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO Institute), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. s.pluijm@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Saskia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pluijm
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Martine T E
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Puts
authors.forename: Miranda G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dik
authors.forename: Bianca W M
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Schalk
authors.forename: Natasja M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Schoor
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schaap
authors.forename: Ruud J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bosscher
authors.forename: Dorly J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires