Document Type
Marquette Only
Language
eng
Publication Date
5-2002
Publisher
American Public Health Association
Source Publication
American Journal of Public Health
Source ISSN
0090-0036
Abstract
Objectives. This study examined whether body mass index (BMI) or change in BMI raises the risk of disability in adulthood.
Methods. The relation between BMI and upper- and lower-body disability was examined among adult subjects from a national longitudinal survey (n = 6833). Tobit regression models were used to examine the effect of BMI on disability 10 and 20 years later.
Results. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) at baseline or becoming obese during the study was associated with higher levels of upper- and, especially, lower-body disability. In persons who began the study with a BMI of 30 or more and became normal weight, disability was not reduced. Underweight persons (BMI < 18.5) also manifested higher disability in most instances.
Conclusions. Disability risk was higher for obese persons, but overweight was not consistently associated with higher disability.
Recommended Citation
Ferraro, Kenneth F.; Su, Ya-ping; Gretebeck, Randall J.; Black, David R.; and Badylak, Stephen F., "Body Mass Index and Disability in Adulthood: A 20-Year Panel Study" (2002). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 874.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/874
Comments
Accepted version. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 92, No. 5 (May 2002): 834-840. DOI. © 2002 American Public Health Association. Used with permission.