Obesity and Weight Change
Specifically, current obesity, steady weight
change and weight fluctuation as predictors of physical functioning in
middle aged office workers:the Whitehall II study
Obesity & Weight Change Study Aim
(i) To investigate the effects of current obesity, steady weight change
and weight fluctuation on physical functioning and (ii) to determine whether
associations are independent of coronary heart disease.
Obesity & Weight Change Study Setting
British civil servants based in London offices at baseline. Subjects included
6895 men and 3413 women aged 35-55 years at baseline.
Obesity & Weight Change Study Measurements
Physical functioning was assessed using the 10-item scale from the Short
Form 36 Health Survey, with a score in the lowest quartile indicating
poor physical functioning.
Obesity & Weight Change Study Results
After adjustment for age and confounders (employment grade, smoking, alcohol,
exercise and menopausal status), current BMI was monotonically associated
with poor physical functioning in women whereas a threshold effect at
a BMI of 27 kg/m2 was seen in men. The odds ratio of poor physical functioning
was 1.55 amongst women and 1.04 amongst men with BMI 23-24.9 kg/m2 compared
to those with BMI <21 kg/m2. Women in the upper, compared to the lower,
tertile of steady weight change, had an odds ratio of poor physical functioning
of 1.79 after adjustment for age, confounders, current BMI and weight
fluctuation. Women in the upper, compared to the lower, tertile of weight
fluctuation had an odds ratio of poor physical functioning of 1.70 adjusting
for age, confounders, current BMI and steady weight change. Adjustment
for the presence of coronary heart disease did not substantially alter
any of these associations. Steady weight change and weight fluctuation
had no independent effects in men.
Obesity & Weight Change Study Conclusion
Among women, current obesity, steady weight change and weight fluctuation
are independently and monotonically associated with poor physical functioning.
Development of overt coronary heart disease is unlikely to be the mechanism
for these associations.
Source: International Journal of Obesity
(1997)
|
|
|
com