Body mass index categories and anxiety symptoms among adults aged ≥ 50years from low and middle income countries.

Abstract

Body weight may be arisk factor for anxiety; however, there is ascarcity of studies on this association in older adults especially from low and middle income countries (LMICs). Therefore, we investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) and anxiety symptoms among adults aged ≥ 50years from 6 LMICs. Cross-sectional, community-based, nationally representative data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed. The BMI was based on measured weight and height and was categorized as: < 18.5 kg/m2 (underweight), 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 (normal weight), 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 (overweight), 30.0-34.9 kg/m2 (obesity classI), 35.0-39.9 kg/m2 (obesity classII), and ≥ 40 kg/m2 (obesity classIII). Anxiety symptoms referred to severe/extreme problems with worry or anxiety in the past 30days. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. Data on 34,129individuals aged ≥ 50years (mean age 62.4 years, SD 16.0 years; 52.1% female) were analyzed. Overall, compared to normal weight, only underweight was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms (odds ratio, OR = 1.56; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.26-1.95). Obesity classIII (vs. normal weight) was associated with significantly increased odds for anxiety symptoms (OR = 4.15; 95%CI = 1.49-11.59) only among males. In this large representative sample of older adults from LMICs, underweight was associated with anxiety symptoms in males and females. ClassIII obesity was associated with anxiety symptoms only in males. Future studies to shed light on the reason why severe obesity was associated with anxiety symptoms only among males in LMICs are needed.