Body Mass Index Trajectories in Relation to Change in Lean Mass and Physical Function: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Issue 8 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reinders, Ilse; Murphy, Rachel A.; Martin, Kathryn R.; Brouwer, Ingeborg A.; Visser, Marjolein; White, Daniel K.; Newman, Anne B.; Houston, Denise K.; Kanaya, Alka M.; Nagin, Daniel S.; Harris, Tamara B.; for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 63:Issue 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1615
• Page End: 1621
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13524
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jgs13524-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To examine body mass index (BMI) trajectories with change in lean mass and physical function in old age.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Prospective cohort study.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>Black and white men (n = 482) and women (n = 516) aged 73.1 ± 2.7 and initially free of disability.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>A group‐based trajectory model was used to determine BMI trajectories, the path a person's BMI followed over 9 years. Lean mass, gait speed, grip strength, and knee extension strength were assessed at baseline and after 9 years, and relative changes were calculated. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine associations between trajectories and relative change in lean mass and physical function.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Four BMI trajectories were identified for men and four for women. Although all demonstrated a decline in BMI, the rate of decline differed according to trajectory for women only. Men in Trajectory 4 (mean BMI at baseline 33.9 ± 2.3 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) declined more than those in Trajectory 1 (mean BMI at baseline 22.9 ± 1.6 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) in gait speed (−9.91%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −15.15% to −4.67%) and leg strength (−8.63%, 95% CI = −15.62% to −1.64%). Women in Trajectory 4 (mean BMI at baseline 34.9 ± 3.0 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) had greater losses than those in Trajectory 1 (mean BMI at baseline 20.5 ± 1.6 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) in lean mass in the arms (−3.19%, 95% CI = −6.16% to −0.23%). No other associations were observed.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13524-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Obese men had the highest risk of decline in physical function despite similar weight loss between trajectories, whereas overweight and obese women who lost the most weight had the greatest risk of lean mass loss. The weight at which a person enters old age is informative for predicting loss in lean mass and physical function, illustrating the importance of monitoring weight.</p> </sec> </abstract>