title: Overweight and obesity over the adult life course and incident mobility limitation in older adults: the health, aging and body composition study.
abstract: Obesity in middle and old age predicts mobility limitation; however, the cumulative effect of overweight and/or obesity over the adult life course is unknown. The association between overweight and/or obesity in young, middle, and late adulthood and its cumulative effect on incident mobility limitation was examined among community-dwelling US adults aged 70-79 years at baseline (1997-1998) in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study (n = 2,845). Body mass index was calculated by using recalled weight at ages 25 and 50 years and measured weight at ages 70-79 years. Mobility limitation (difficulty walking 1/4 mile (0.4 km) or climbing 10 steps) was assessed semiannually over 7 years of follow-up and was reported by 43.0% of men and 53.7% of women. Men and women who were overweight or obese at all 3 time points had an increased risk of mobility limitation (hazard ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.25, 2.06 and hazard ratio = 2.85, 95% confidence interval: 2.15, 3.78, respectively) compared with those who were normal weight throughout. Furthermore, there was a significant graded response (P < 0.0001) on risk of mobility limitation for the cumulative effect of obesity in men and overweight and/or obesity in women. Onset of overweight and obesity in earlier life contributes to an increased risk of mobility limitation in old age.
authors.affiliation: Sticht Center on Aging, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1207, USA. dhouston@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Denise K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: Jingzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.forename: Tamara B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Jung Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nevitt
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Frances A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tylavsky
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kritchevsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*