Abstract P010: Obesity Status in Younger Age, 39-year Weight Change and Physical Performance in Older Age: the Chicago Healthy Aging Study (CHAS)

Abstract

Background: Obesity is associated with serious medical complications and impaired quality of life. In older adults, obesity can aggravate the age-related decline in physical performance and lead to other forms of disability. However, the association of obesity status and weight change over decades with physical performance in older age has not been well studied. Methods: In 1,325 men and women who were initially examined in 1967-73 and re-examined in 2007-10 in the CHAS study, we stratified by baseline BMI and categorized weight change over 39 years (categories in table footnote). At follow-up (FU) when participants were ages 65+, muscle strength (hand grip) and performance [4m gait speed and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)] were measured. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the association of baseline obesity status and weight change categories with categorized low strength and performance measures adjusted for baseline (BL) CVD risk status, FU age, sex, race, education, ankle-brachial index, SBP, total cholesterol, smoking status, diabetes, and cholesterol and BP medication use. Results: The mean age at baseline was 33 and at FU was 71, 28% were women and 9% were black. At follow-up, 10.3 % had SPPB score ≤ 8, 8.4 % had gait speed on 4 meter course < 0.8 m/s, and 23.8 % had low sex-specific handgrip strength (<18kg for women, <30kg for men). As compared with those who were normal weight at baseline with minimal weight change (-10lbs to 20lbs), participants who were overweight initially and gained the most weight (> 20lbs) were more likely to have a low SPPB score, gait speed <0.8 m/s, or sex-specific handgrip strength (ORs: 4.55, 4.58, and 1.86, respectively). Weight loss > 10 lbs is associated with SPPB score, and can be seen among those with BL BMI <25 kg/m 2 but not among those with BL BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 . Conclusion: Obesity and overweight in younger age and significant weight gain over time are each associated with poor physical performance in older age.