Obesity, Obesity Related Disease, and Disability

Abstract

BackgroundObesity increases the risk of many chronic diseases and contributes to functional disabilities. We assessed the relationship among obesity and obesity related chronic disease and disability in Korean adults.MethodsThis study used data from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 5,462 persons (2,325 men, 3,137 women) aged 20 years and older were included in this analysis. Obesity was measured by body mass index and abdominal obesity was by waist circumference. Information on the presence of chronic diseases was based on the self-report of having been diagnosed by physicians. Functional disability was assessed using the Korean activities of daily living (K-ADL) and the Korean instrumental ADL (K-IADL) scales.ResultsThe relationship between obesity and prevalence of obesity-related chronic diseases was higher in the older aged group (>60 years for men, >70 years for women) than in the younger aged group. Waist circumference was more related to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases than body mass index in the younger aged group. Abdominal obesity increased the risk (odds ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 5.66) of having limitation in activities of daily living for the younger aged men after adjustments for age, smoking status, presence of chronic diseases, and body mass index. Body mass index was not associated with disability in either men or women.ConclusionThe association between obesity and prevalence of chronic disease differed depending on age and sex. It is important to control abdominal obesity to prevent disability in younger aged men.

Abdominal obesity as a risk factor for disability in Brazilian older adults

“…Chen et al (50) had already shown the same effect in Hispanic older adults: when BMI and WC were included in the same model, WC, but not BMI, remained significantly associated with disability. Na et al (51) also found that BMI was not related to disability in Korean older adults and abdominal obesity increased the odds of ADL limitation by 2•7-fold.…”

Anthropometric patterns of adiposity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus in older adults of Viçosa, Brazil: A population‐based study

“…3 It is known that aging results in increased total and central adiposity, but it still remains unclear what the best methods and cut-offs are for the definition of obesity in the elderly population. 3 It is known that aging results in increased total and central adiposity, but it still remains unclear what the best methods and cut-offs are for the definition of obesity in the elderly population.…”

“…Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, which contributes significantly to the increased incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular atherothrombotic diseases, 1 cancer 2 and inability to carry out activities of daily living. 3 It is known that aging results in increased total and central adiposity, but it still remains unclear what the best methods and cut-offs are for the definition of obesity in the elderly population. 4 Although studies show that excess weight in older adults is associated with lower mortality, the important role of body fat cannot be disregarded, especially visceral fat, a risk factor for diseases, such as DM and hypertension.…”

Health Maintenance in Very Old Age : Medical Conditions, Functional Outcome and Nutritional Status

“…In younger age groups, many studies have emphasized that WC is a predictive marker of functional disability and ADL limitations [168][169][170][171]. This conclusion also applies to very old people because of the negative consequence of accumulation of visceral fat over a life span in very old people compared with their younger peers.…”