title: Relationship between obesity and obesity-related morbidities weakens with aging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A weak relationship exists between obesity and mortality risk in older populations, however, the influence of age on the relationship between obesity and morbidity is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of age on the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were used. Individuals were classified into specific age (young: 18-40; middle: 40-65; old: 65-75; and very old: ≥75 years) and body mass index (BMI; 18.5-24.9, >25-29.9, ≥ 30kg/m(2)) categories. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension were categorized using measured metabolic risk factors, physician diagnosis, or medication use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age modified the relationship between BMI and cardiovascular disease (Age × BMI interaction, p = .049), dyslipidemia (Age × BMI interaction, p = .035 for men, p < .001 for women), and hypertension (Age × BMI interaction, p = .023) in women but not in men (p = .167). However, age did not modify the relationship between BMI and type 2 diabetes (Age × BMI interaction, p = .177). BMI was strongly associated with increased relative risk of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension in the young and middle aged, however, the association between BMI and these metabolic conditions were much more attenuated with increasing age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A stronger association between obesity and prevalent metabolic conditions exists in young and middle-aged populations than in old and very old populations. Longitudinal studies are needed to verify these findings and to confirm the benefits of weight loss on health across the life span.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University Sherman Health Science Research Centre, Rm 2002 4700 Keele Street Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. jennkuk@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Karissa L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Canning
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Veronica K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Jamnik
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Body mass index.; Morbidity; Obesity