Relative Weight and Mobility: A Longitudinal Study in a Biracial Population of Older Adults

Purpose We examined the association of relative weight with mobility and changes in mobility over time and whether these associations differed by race. Methods Data come from a prospective, population-based, observational study of adults aged 65 years or older. Mobility outcomes were assessed at baseline and two follow-up interviews at 3-year intervals. The study included 4195 participants with a mean age of 73.8 ± 6.3 (SD) years; 61.4% were women, and 60.9% were black. Assessment of mobility included a brief self-report instrument and a performance-based walk test. Body mass index (BMI, kilograms per square meter) was used as a measure of relative weight. We used generalized estimating equation models to examine change in mobility outcomes over time as a function of BMI. Results Average BMI was 26.6 ± 5.7 kg/m2, with 34.0% overweight and 23.4% obese. BMI showed a significant curvilinear association with mobility outcomes at baseline (p < 0.001), but was not associated with change in mobility during follow-up. Maximum mobility levels occurred at a significantly higher level of BMI among blacks than whites. Conclusions Higher levels of BMI may lead to mobility impairments earlier in life, but there is little evidence that they increase the rate of decline in mobility in older age itself.