title: Body weight status and onset of functional limitations in U.S. middle-aged and older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sweeping obesity epidemic could further increase the incidence of functional limitations in the U.S. rapidly aging population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between body weight status and onset of functional limitations in U.S. middle-aged and older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study sample came from 1992 to 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height/weight. Functional limitations were classified into physical mobility limitation (PM), large muscle function limitation (LMF), activities of daily living limitation (ADL), gross motor function limitation (GMF), and fine motor function limitation (FMF). Mixed-effect logistic regressions were performed to estimate the relationship between prior-wave body weight status and current-wave onset of functional limitations, adjusted for individual characteristics and survey design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior-wave body weight status prospectively predicted onset of functional limitation, and the relationship showed a U-shaped pattern. Compared with their normal weight counterparts, the odds ratios (ORs) in underweight (BMI < 18.5) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) adults were 1.30 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.62) and 2.31 (2.11-2.52) for PM, 1.20 (0.96-1.50) and 1.63 (1.49-1.79) for LMF, 2.02 (1.66-2.46) and 1.40 (1.28-1.54) for ADL, 1.96 (1.60-2.39) and 1.77 (1.62-1.93) for GMF, and 1.66 (1.37-2.02) and 1.34 (1.22-1.46) for FMF, respectively. For PM, LMF and GMF, the impact of obesity appeared more pronounced in women, whereas that of underweight more pronounced in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Proper weight management during aging is crucial in preventing functional limitations in middle-aged and older adults.
authors: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 S 4th Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. Electronic address: ran5@illinois.edu.
authors: Ruopeng
authors: R
authors: An
authors: Division of Health Policy, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors: Yuyan
authors: Y
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012737:Sex Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States
keywords: Disability; Functional limitation; Obesity; Older adult; Underweight