Recorded presentation

Karen Swallen, MPH, PhD, Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, Steven A. Haas, PhD, Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, (319) 248-1266, shaas@ssc.wisc.edu, and Eric Reither, MA, MS, Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 756 WARF Office Building, 610 Walnut St, Madison, WI 53726.

Objectives: To determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and quality of life (QOL) in older Americans. To determine how weight gain or loss affects QOL. Design/Subjects: Population-based cohort study. 9,181 persons in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 1992-2000, a nationally-representative, population-based sample of non-institutionalized Americans ages 51-61 in 1992. Exclusions were: not age-eligible, not self-report, BMI<19, and died before 1994. Measures: BMI is assessed using self-reported height and weight. QOL is assessed using self-reported global health, global emotional health, and depression. Results: In cross-section, obesity is associated with increased depression (OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.38) and worse global health (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.77). Morbid obesity is associated with increased depression (OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.36, 2.02), worse emotional health (OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.89), and worse global health (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 2.29, 3.29). Participants who lowered their BMI category by 1994 had less depression (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.80), better emotional health (OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.78) and better global health (OR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.80) in 1994. Participants who increased body mass categories had worse global health (OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.79) in 1994, but no statistically significant change in depression (OR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.81, 1.18) or emotional health (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.16). Conclusions: Higher BMI is associated with reduced QOL in older Americans. In this population, losing weight improves QOL in general while gaining weight reduces global health.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• describe the relationship between body mass index and physical and non-physical measures of quality of life,
• describe how changes in BMI over time alter quality of life

Keywords: Obesity,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation