Regular vigorous physical activity and disability development in healthy overweight and normal-weight seniors: a 13-year study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the relationship of regular exercise and body weight to disability among healthy seniors.


METHODS
We assessed body mass index (BMI) and vigorous exercise yearly (1989-2002) in 805 participants aged 50 to 72 years at enrollment. We studied 4 groups: normal-weight active (BMI< 25 kg/m(2); exercise> 60 min/wk); normal-weight inactive (exercise<or= 60 min/wk); overweight active (BMI>or= 25 kg/m(2)); and overweight inactive. Disability was measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (0-3; 0= no difficulty, 3= unable to do). We used multivariable analysis of covariance to determine group differences in disability scores after adjustment for determinants of disability.


RESULTS
The cohort was 72% men and 96% White, with a mean age of 65.2 years. After 13 years, overweight active participants had significantly less disability than did overweight inactive (0.14 vs 0.19; P= .001) and normal-weight inactive (0.22; P= .03) participants. Similar differences were found between normal-weight active (0.11) and normal-weight inactive participants (P< .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Being physically active mitigated development of disability in these seniors, largely independent of BMI. Public health efforts that promote physically active lifestyles among seniors may be more successful than those that emphasize body weight in the prevention of functional decline.
Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University 1000 Welch Rd, Suite 203, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. bbruce@stanford.edu
Bonnie
B
Bruce
James F
JF
Fries
Helen
H
Hubert
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness