Weight change, initial BMI, and mortality among middle- and older-aged adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is not known how the relationship between weight change and mortality is influenced by initial body mass index (BMI) or the magnitude of weight change.

Methods

We use the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (n = 13,104; follow-up 1992-2006) and Cox regression analysis to estimate relative mortality risks for 2-year weight change by initial BMI among 50- to-70-year-old Americans. We defined small weight loss or gain as a change of 1-2.9 BMI units and large weight loss or gain as a change of 3-5 BMI units.

Results

Large and small weight losses were associated with excess mortality for all initial BMI levels below 32 kg/m (eg, hazard ratio [HR] for large weight loss from BMI of 30 = 1.61 [95% confidence interval = 1.31-1.98]; HR for small

SUBMITTER: Myrskyla M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2903861 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature