Trajectories of Body Mass Index and Their Associations With Mortality Among Older Japanese: Do They Differ From Those of Western Populations?

Overall survival and short-term efficacy analysis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma with skeletal muscle and 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters

2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) can provide tumor biological metabolism and skeletal muscle composition information. The aim of this study was to evaluate overall survival (OS) and short-term efficacy of cervical squamous cell carcinoma combining tumor biological metabolism and skeletal muscle composition parameters. Eighty two patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study, who received 18F-FDG PET/CT scans before treatment. Clinical characteristics, tumor biological metabolism parameters [standardized uptake value, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis, heterogeneity of tumors, etc.] and body composition parameters were recorded. The survival analysis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients was performed by univariate and multivariate analysis. A combined model included clinical indicators, tumor metabolism parameters and sarcopenia was constructed to evaluate OS of patients. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1, the relationship between sarcopenia with tumor metabolism parameters and short-term efficacy was investigated in subgroup. The results indicate that sarcopenia and high value of the sum of MTV of lesions and metastases (MTVtotal) were poor prognostic factors in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The combination of sarcopenia, MTVtotal and clinical factors provided an improved prediction of OS especially in the long term after treatment. Nutritional status of the patients and tumor metabolism may not affect the short-term efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Body mass index trajectories and mortality risk in Japan using a population-based prospective cohort study: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have found that long-term changes in weight during adulthood are associated with a high risk of mortality. The objective of this study was to characterize body mass index (BMI) trajectories during adulthood and to examine the association between BMI trajectories and risk of death in the Japanese population.

METHODS

The data were extracted from Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study-a population-based prospective cohort study in Japan with participants aged 40-69 years followed over 20 years. The participants were categorized into multiple BMI trajectory groups using the latent class growth model. The Cox proportional-hazards model was conducted using all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality as outcomes and the identified BMI trajectory groups as a predictor. In total, 65 520 participants were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

Six BMI trajectory groups were identified: underweight stable (Group 1), low-to-high normal (Group 2), high-to-low normal (Group 3), normal to overweight (Group 4), overweight to normal (Group 5) and normal to obese (Group 6). Our Cox models showed a higher hazard (risk) of all-cause mortality among participants in the BMI-declining groups [Group 3, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.10, 95% CI: 1.05-1.16; Group 5, aHR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.26], underweight stable group (Group 1, aHR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.21-1.33) and normal to obese group (Group 6, aHR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.13-1.33) than Group 2 (low-to-high normal BMI trajectory).

CONCLUSIONS

Stable underweight and weight loss were associated with a high risk of mortality, both of which were uniquely observed in a Japanese population.

BMI trajectory in adulthood in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A retrospective cohort study in Taiwan

A dynamic change of weight over time has been known as an important factor that impacts mortality risk. The aims of this study were to identify the heterogeneity of BMI trajectory groups and to examine the association of the trajectories of BMI and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The data for this study were obtained from a large prospective cohort study in Taiwan between 1998 and 2019 that was linked to the National Death Registry for death information. The participants were stratified into four groups by age and gender; self-reported demographics and measured BMI data were used. We used group-based trajectory analysis to identify the distinct trajectories of changes in BMI. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk. Data were analyzed in April 2020 and included 89,886 participants. Four trajectory groups were identified by the pattern of BMI change over time. Our study shows that different trajectories were associated with mortality. Our findings suggest that the mortality risk differs in each trajectory group and in each age and gender stratification. It appears that obesity is a protective factor in cancer-related mortality in females but not in males in group of old age participants; low-normal weight is a risk factor in respiratory-related mortality in all participants. Our findings can be used to suggest the appropriate BMI in each age and gender groups and thereby earlier health interventions can be taken to avoid mortality.

Rapid weight change as a predictor of disability among community-dwelling Japanese older adults

AIM

To fill the knowledge gap regarding weight change and the onset of disability in community-dwelling Japanese older adults, we investigated the potential effects of rapid weight change on disability risk as defined by Japan's long-term care insurance (LTCI) system.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 10 375 community-dwelling older Japanese adults (≥65 years) who were not LTCI needs certified at baseline and joined the study from 2002 to 2005. Weight change (percentage) was calculated by subtracting participants' weight in the previous year from that measured during a physical examination at study commencement. The five weight-change categories ranged from sizable weight loss (≤ -8.0%) to sizable weight gain (≥ +8.0%). Disability was defined according to LTCI certifications at follow-up. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for new-onset disability using a Cox proportional hazards model that fitted the proportional subdistribution hazards regression model with weights for competing risks of death.

RESULTS

During the mean 10.5-year follow-up, 2994 participants developed a disability. Sizable weight loss (HR [95% confidence intervals], 1.41 [1.17-1.71]) and weight loss (1.20 [1.05-1.36]) were significant predictors of disability onset. Sizable weight gain (1.45 [1.07-1.97]) corresponded to severe disability. Stratified analyses by lifestyle and initial body mass index categories revealed more pronounced associations between weight change and disability risk in the unhealthy lifestyle and below initial normal body mass index groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Rapid and sizable weight gain could be additional criteria for disability risk in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 809-816.

Association between different adiposity measures and all-cause mortality risk among centenarians: A prospective cohort study

IMPORTANCE

Little evidence on the association between adiposity measures and all-cause mortality was observed among centenarians, and no targeted development of optimal weight recommendations for them.

OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively assess the association between adiposity indices and all-cause mortality among centenarians.

DESIGN SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective population-based cohort study included 1002 centenarians registered in 18 counties and cities in Hainan Province from June 2014 to May 2021. The age of participants at baseline was provided by the civil affairs bureau and verified before enrollment.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

All-cause mortality was rigorously confirmed as the primary outcome. BMI was calculated by height and weight. BRI was calculated by height and waist circumference.

RESULTS

At baseline, the mean (SD) age was 102.8 ± 2.7 years, and 180 participants (18.0%) were men. The median follow-up time was 5.0 (4.8-5.5) years, with 522 deaths. In BMI categories, compared with the lowest group (mean BMI = 14.2 kg/m2), the highest group (mean BMI = 22.2 kg/m2) had lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95%CI, 0.47-0.79) (P for trend = 0.001). In BRI categories, compared with the lowest group (mean BRI = 2.3), the highest group (mean BRI = 5.7) had lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66; 95%CI, 0.51-0.85) (P for trend = 0.002), and the risk did not decrease after BRI exceeded 3.9 in women. Higher BRI was associated with lower HRs after adjusting for interaction with comorbidities status. E-values analysis suggested robustness to unmeasured confounding.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

BMI and BRI were inverse linear associated with mortality risk in the whole population, while BRI was observed to be J-shaped in women. The interaction of lower multiple complication incidence and BRI had a significant effect on the reduced risk of all-cause mortality.

Association of Weight at Different Ages and All-Cause Mortality Among Older Adults in the US

Objective: Assess the association of BMI and BMI change with mortality. Methods: Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) on participants born mainly in 1939 (n=4922), we investigated the associations between various measures of BMI across the life course (age 54 BMI; age 65 BMI; age 72 BMI; lifetime maximum BMI; BMI change between ages 54 and 65; BMI change between ages 65 and 72) and mortality. We also assessed whether these associations are mediated by late life health. Results: BMI at age 54 was more strongly associated with late life mortality than BMI at older ages. The association between BMI change and mortality varied based on the timing of weight change. Health at age 72, particularly self-rated health, diabetes, and physical functioning, mediated the observed associations. Conclusion: Knowing older people's weight at midlife and how their weight has changed may be more important in assessing late life mortality risk than their current weight.

Mortality risk in older Japanese people based on self-reported dyslipidemia treatment and socioeconomic status: The JAGES cohort study

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Older people under self-reported dyslipidemia treatment had some distinction.

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They had higher income and education levels than those without treatment.

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Their self-reported treatment status was negatively associated with mortality risk.

Few studies consider socioeconomic status when assessing mortality risk in dyslipidemia cases. This study used cohort data from the 2010 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), which contains data on older Japanese people, to associate socioeconomic status with mortality risk in patients treated for dyslipidemia. In this 6-year longitudinal study, we examined 47,275 older Japanese people aged ≥ 65 years who could independently perform activities of daily living. Patients’ background characteristics were classified based on their dyslipidemia treatment status and were assessed using the chi-squared test. The mortality risk was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model, wherein the objective and explanatory variables were total mortality and self-report of dyslipidemia treatment, respectively. The participants were stratified by sex and age into younger (aged 65–74 years) and older (aged ≥ 75 years) groups of men and women. The results were adjusted, with health condition, health behavior, and socioeconomic status as confounding factors. The adjusted hazard ratios of 5514 people who died during the follow-up who had self-reported dyslipidemia treatment were 0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35–0.69] for younger men; 0.57 (95% CI 0.42–0.76) for older men; 0.52 (95% CI 0.34–0.80) for younger women; and 0.47 (95% CI 0.33–0.67) for older women. Older people undergoing treatment for dyslipidemia had factors beneficial for health, such as good socioeconomic status. Despite considering these factors, individuals undergoing dyslipidemia treatment had a negative association with mortality risk.

The Burden of Undiagnosed Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Symptoms experienced by adult patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently result in functional impairment across academic/occupational functioning, daily life, and social functioning. A substantial proportion of undiagnosed and untreated ADHD has been suggested in Japan. This study aims to better understand the potential undiagnosed ADHD population in Japan by quantifying the burden associated with ADHD symptoms through a comparison of the prevalence of comorbidities, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI), and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) between undiagnosed potential ADHD respondents who were screened positive and negative using Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)-v1.1.

Methodology

Respondents from Japan National Health and Wellness Survey 2016 who answered ASRS-v1.1 without an ADHD diagnosis were included. Respondents checking ≥4 items from ASRS-A and ≥9 from ASRS-A+B were classified as ASRS A+ (n = 309) and ASRS AB+ (n = 227), respectively. ASRS negative (n = 9,280) were respondents who were neither ASRS A+ nor ASRS AB+. Data on the presence of comorbidities, HRQoL, WPAI, and HRU were compared.

Results

ASRS A+ and ASRS AB+ respondents reported higher coexistence of mental comorbidities (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.), sleep problems (insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, etc.), and physical comorbidities (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, allergy, and asthma). They also reported greater WPAI and HRU and lower HRQoL than matched ASRS-negative respondents.

Conclusions

A significantly higher burden was identified among undiagnosed adults with potential ADHD symptoms. Appropriate diagnosis may help those at risk or those who present with symptoms overlapping with ADHD.

Impact of bipolar disorder on health-related quality of life and work productivity: Estimates from the national health and wellness survey in Japan

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that bipolar disorder (BD) patients frequently present with difficulties in interpersonal relationships, education or employment and suffer poorer quality of life. This study aimed to estimate the impact of BD on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), work productivity loss and indirect costs.

METHODS

Data was from the online, self-administered 2019 National Health and Wellness Survey. Outcomes were compared for those who self-reported a physician diagnosis of BD (N=179), major depressive disorder (MDD, N=1,549) and controls who have never experienced BD, MDD and schizophrenia (N=27,485).

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalence was estimated to be 0.60% for BD and 5.16% for MDD. Significantly lower Mental Component Summary (MCS), Role Component Summary (RCS) scores and EuroQol 5-dimension scale (EQ-5D-5L) summary index and significantly higher presenteeism, total work productivity impairment and activity impairment assessed by Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire and indirect costs for BD versus controls and BD PHQ-9≥10 versus PHQ-9<10 were observed. Compared to MDD patients, BD patients had significantly lower RCS score and greater work productivity loss and activity impairment. The national morbidity cost of BD in Japan was estimated to be Japanese yen 1,236 billion using a human-capital approach.

LIMITATIONS

The data used were self-reported and is cross-sectional in nature, thus causal relationship cannot be assumed.

CONCLUSION

BD patients and those with severe depressive symptoms experience significantly poorer HRQOL and greater work productivity loss and indirect costs. These findings highlight the importance of proper screening, diagnosis and treatment of BD and bipolar depression.

Specific body mass index trajectories were related to musculoskeletal pain and mortality: 19-year follow-up cohort

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to study 19-year body mass index (BMI) patterns and their (1) bidirectional relationship with musculoskeletal pain and (2) mortality risk.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

We used data from the Chingford study and group-based trajectory modelling to define 19-year BMI patterns. We investigated whether baseline back, hand, hip, and knee pain (as single- and multi-site) predicted 19-year BMI trajectory, and whether 19-year BMI patterns predicted pain in year 20. We explored BMI trajectories and mortality risk over 25 years (life expectancy).

RESULTS

We included 938 women (mean age: year-1=54, year-20=72) and found seven distinct 19-year BMI trajectories: two normal-weighted (reference), slightly overweight, lower and upper overweight-to-obese, lower and upper obese. BMI patterns capturing the increase overweight-to-obese (BMI 27-34 overtime) were bidirectionally related to knee and multi-site pain. The lower obese pattern (BMI 33-38) was unidirectionally associated with lower limb pain. Women with BMI above 40 had an increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk.

CONCLUSION

For most postmenopausal women, the overweight WHO category was a transition. Two patterns capturing increase overweight-to-obese were mutually related to musculoskeletal pain, i.e., knee and multi-site pain contributed to becoming obese, and trajectories of becoming obese increased the odds of experiencing pain later.

Three-year trajectories of metabolic risk factors predict subsequent long-term mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes

AIM

This study aims to evaluate the associations between 3-year trajectories of metabolic risk factors and subsequent mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 6400 persons aged ≥ 30 years with type 2 diabetes and ≥ 3 years of follow-up period were included. The cluster analysis determined the patterns of 3-year trajectories, and Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the associations between patterns and mortality.

RESULTS

Three trajectory subgroups of metabolic risk factors, namely, cluster 1, normal; cluster 2, high-stable or reducing with high level at baseline; and cluster 3, fluctuation: elevated and decreasing, were generated. The clusters 2 and 3 of body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and triglyceride (TG) trajectories were associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality compared with cluster 1 (hazard ratio = 1.27, 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.51 and 1.45, 1.19-1.78 for BMI; 1.41, 1.22-1.62 and 1.81, 1.38-2.38 for FPG; 1.42, 1.23-1.64 and 1.47, 1.23-1.75 for HbA1c; 1.34, 1.10-1.63 and 2.40, 1.30-4.37 for TG, respectively). For the systolic blood pressure trajectory, only cluster 3 was associated with an increased mortality risk relative to cluster 1 (1.76, 1.13-2.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term metabolic risk factor trajectories may be associated with subsequent mortality.

Self-rated health trajectory and frailty among community-dwelling older adults: evidence from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA)

OBJECTIVES

Self-rated health (SRH) is an assessment and predictor of health based on an individual's general condition; however, evidence of the value of SRH for predicting frailty remains scarce for older Asian adults. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SRH score trajectory and frailty among older individuals in Taiwan.

DESIGN

An 8-year retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging from 1999 to 2007.

PARTICIPANTS

Respondents aged 53-69 years old who were not frail or disabled in 1999 (n=1956).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Frailty was defined using the Fried criteria. The group-based trajectory modelling technique was used to estimate SRH trajectories. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between changes in SRH and frailty.

RESULTS

Four SRH trajectory classes were identified across the 8-year follow-up: 232 participants (11.9%) were classified into the constantly poor SRH group, 1123 (57.4%) into the constantly fair SRH group, 335 (17.1%) into the constantly good SRH group and 266 (13.6%) into the good-to-fair SRH group. After adjusting for gender, age, level of education, income, social participation, health behaviours and major comorbidities, it was found that age, poor income satisfaction, without job and constantly poor SRH were associated with increased risk of frailty, while constantly good SRH (OR 0.04, 95% CI (0.01 to 0.32)) and good-to-fair SRH (OR 0.19, 95% CI (0.06 to 0.63)) were associated with reduced risks of frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Constantly poor SRH was associated with an increased risk of frailty in older age. SRH in older adults should be recognised as a predictive tool for future frailty. Diet and exercise interventions may help to prevent frailty among high-risk older individuals with constantly low SRH.

Body mass index trajectories during mid to late life and risks of mortality and cardiovascular outcomes: Results from four prospective cohorts

BACKGROUND

Our understanding of the weight-outcome association mainly comes from single-time body mass index (BMI) measurement. However, data on long-term trajectories of within-person changes in BMI on diverse study outcomes are sparse. Therefore, this study is to determine the associations of individual BMI trajectories and cardiovascular outcomes.

METHODS

The present analysis was based on data from 4 large prospective cohorts and restricted to participants aged ≥45 years with at least two BMI measurements. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals(95%CI) for each outcome according to different BMI trajectories were calculated in Cox regression models.

FINDINGS

The final sample comprised 29,311 individuals (mean age 58.31 years, and 77.31% were white), with a median 4 BMI measurements used in this study. During a median follow-up of 21.16 years, there were a total of 10,192 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and 11,589 deaths. A U-shaped relation was seen with all study outcomes. Compared with maintaining stable weight, the multivariate adjusted HR for MACE were 1.53 (95%CI 1.40-1.66), 1.26 (95%CI 1.16-1.37) and 1.08 (95%CI 1.02-1.15) respectively for rapid, moderate and slow weight loss; 1.01 (95%CI 0.95-1.07), 1.13 (95%CI 1.05-1.21) and 1.29 (95%CI 1.20-1.40) respectively for slow, moderate and rapid weight gain. Identical patterns of association were observed for all other outcomes. The development of BMI differed markedly between the outcome-free individuals and those who went on to experience adverse events, generally beginning to diverge 10 years before the occurrence of the events.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings may signal an underlying high-risk population and inspire future studies on weight management.

FUNDING

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guangdong Natural Science Foundation.

Nutritional status related to poor health outcomes in older people: Which is better, obese or lean?

Good nutritional status is crucial for maintaining growth and health in all stages of life. However, the relationship between nutritional status and health and the effect on various health-related outcomes differ, depending on the life stage. Many adverse outcomes in older adults, directly linked to different nutritional status, are not present in middle-aged adults, and their ideal nutritional status may differ. This article will review the optimal nutritional status, mainly evaluated by anthropometric measurements such as body mass index, for older adults from various perspectives. Overall, in older adults low body mass index is at higher risk of health problems such as mortality and difficulties in physical functioning compared with middle-aged adults, reducing the risk of health problems for overweight and (abdominal) obesity. Overweight may be more beneficial than lower level of normal weight in older-old and vulnerable older people. While, with or without obesity, skeletal muscle loss or weakness as well as unintentional weight loss induces health problems in older adults. The impact of metabolic syndrome on the prognosis of older adults is clearly reduced compared with middle-aged adults, requiring a shift in medical attention in older adults from metabolic syndrome to frailty. There are still many unclear points regarding the optimal nutritional status of older people, and further research is needed to support healthy longevity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 5-13.

Characteristics of individuals with tuberculosis in an urban, poor population in Osaka City, Japan - a case-control study

Objective

To identify individual characteristics related to the development of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among residents in the Airin area (Airin), Osaka City, Japan.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective case-control study of individual characteristics potentially related to the development of PTB by comparing PTB patients and residents without tuberculosis (TB) in Airin. The following binominal data of characteristics were compared: age (< 65 or > 65); body mass index (BMI) (< 18.5 or > 18.5); diabetes mellitus (diagnosed or not diagnosed); smoking (currently smoking any amount or not smoking); and alcohol use (currently drinking any amount or not drinking).

Results

We compared the individual characteristics of 192 PTB patients notified from January 2015 to December 2018 and 190 residents of supportive houses who attended a health education programme from April 2016 to March 2018.

Univariable analysis showed that the following characteristics were significantly related with PTB: BMI < 18.5 (odds ratio [OR]: 6.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.58–11.97, P < 0.001) and current alcohol use (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.24–2.85, P = 0.003). Multivariable analysis showed similar results: BMI < 18.5 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 6.90, 95% CI: 3.72–12.79, P < 0.001) and current alcohol use (aOR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.36–3.42, P = 0.001).

Discussion

Undernutrition and alcohol use are individual characteristics associated with PTB among residents in Airin, Osaka City. To strengthen the TB control programme further, it is suggested to develop new programmes for primary prevention.

Trajectories of Body Mass Index and Their Associations with Mortality among Older Adults in Korea: Analysis of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging

Background

Weight change is a known risk factor for mortality. Previous Korean studies only considered mortality consequences of weight change between two time points over relatively short periods. This study investigated whether body mass index (BMI) trajectory patterns were associated with all cause-mortality based on continuous BMI observations during a 10-year follow-up period among Korean older adults.

Method

This study analyzed data from the 2006–2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging database. The participants included in this study were 3,478 people aged 65 years or older who had no previous cancer history. A trajectory model was developed to classify different homogeneous trajectory subgroups according to BMI, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the association of BMI trajectory with all-cause mortality.

Result

We identified four trajectory groups: obese (OG); overweight (OWG); high normal weight (HNWG); and low normal weight (LNWG). The LNWG and HNWG experienced continuous weight loss during the study period. Trajectories with higher BMI were associated with lower mortality. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality in the LNWG, HNWG, and OWG were 2.40 (1.69–3.40), 1.75 (1.26–2.45), and 1.38 (0.99–1.96), respectively, compared with those in the OG.

Conclusion

We found that the lower the BMI of the weight trajectory group, the higher the mortality over 10 years in Korean older adults. This result suggested that baseline obesity status and degree of weight loss during follow-up contributed to mortality in later life.

Body mass index and all-cause mortality in older adults: A scoping review of observational studies

In older age, body composition changes as fat mass increases and redistributes. Therefore, the current body mass index (BMI) classification may not accurately reflect risk in older adults (65+). This study aimed to review the evidence on the association between BMI and all-cause mortality in older adults and specifically, the findings regarding overweight and obese BMI. A systematic search of the OVID MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted between 2013 and September 2018. Observational studies examining the association between BMI and all-cause mortality within a community-dwelling population aged 65+ were included. Seventy-one articles were included. Studies operationalized BMI categorically (n = 60), continuously (n = 8) or as a numerical change/group transition (n = 7). Reduced risk of mortality was observed for the overweight BMI class compared with the normal BMI class (hazard ratios [HR] ranged 0.41-0.96) and for class 1 or 2 obesity in some studies. Among studies examining BMI change, increases in BMI demonstrated lower mortality risks compared with decreases in BMI (HR: 0.83-0.95). Overweight BMI classification or a higher BMI value may be protective with regard to all-cause mortality, relative to normal BMI, in older adults. These findings demonstrate the potential need for age-specific BMI cut-points in older adults.

Age and gender differences in the association between body mass index and all-cause mortality among older Japanese

ABSTRACTObjective: Increasing evidence suggests a reverse J-shaped association between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality among the older population. However, findings from non-Western societies including Japan are still sparse. Furthermore, little evidence regarding variation by age and gender in the BMI-mortality relationship in old age exists. This study aimed to examine age and gender variations in the relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality among older Japanese. Design: Data came from a national representative sample of community-dwelling Japanese aged 60 years and older at baseline (n = 4,869). Participants were followed for up to 25 years. We categorized BMI into seven categories: < 18.5, 18.5-19.9, 20.0-21.4, 21.5-22.9, 23.0-24.9, 25.0-26.9, and ≥ 27.0. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the relative mortality risk associated with BMI categories. Results: Lower BMI (< 18.5 and 18.5-19.9) was associated with higher mortality, compared to the mid-normal weight category (BMI: 21.5-22.9), after adjusting for covariates. In contrast, high-normal weight (BMI: 23.0-24.9) and overweight (BMI: 25.0-26.9 and ≥ 27.0) were not associated with mortality. Relative to old-old (aged ≥ 75 years), the higher mortality risk associated with lower BMI (< 20) appeared to be more prominent among young-old (aged 60-74 years). A moderately increased mortality risk associated with low BMI (18.5-19.9) was identified among men but not among women. Conclusion: Among older Japanese, low BMI (< 20.0) was associated with higher mortality, while high BMI (≥ 27.0) was not. The increased mortality risk associated with low BMI is more apparent among young-old and men. These age and gender differences need to be considered in assessing healthy body weight in old age.

Can fusion to S1 maintain favorable surgical outcomes following one-level pedicle subtraction osteotomy in patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis?

PURPOSE

To compare the surgical outcomes between ankylosing spondylitis (AS)-related thoracolumbar kyphosis patients with the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) at S1 or above following one-level pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO).

METHODS

One hundred and two AS patients undergoing one-level PSO with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included. Twenty-two patients were in group S1 (LIV at S1), and eighty were in group non-S1 (LIV above S1). Radiographic parameters including lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic incidence (PI), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) were applied for clinical assessment.

RESULTS

In both S1 and non-S1 groups, the radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes were significantly improved after surgery (P  < 0.05). Patients undergoing distal fusion to S1 had significantly larger preoperative PI-LL mismatch, SVA, and smaller preoperative LL and SS compared to those in group non-S1 (P  < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding preoperative and final follow-up ODI and VAS (P  > 0.05), as well as the improvement in ODI and VAS (P  > 0.05). The incidence of overall complications and each type of complication including the implant failure was similar between group S1 and non-S1 (P  > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Selecting S1 as the LIV without pelvic fixation following one-level PSO in thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by AS could achieve satisfactory surgical outcomes and might not increase the complications. Patients with relatively severe sagittal imbalance, loss of LL, PI-LL mismatch, and small SS might be the potential candidates for distal fusion to S1 following one-level PSO.

Association between weight change over a period of 4 years and mortality in Korean older adults

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the association between weight change and mortality in Korean older adults.

METHODS

We collected data pertaining to National Screening Program participants aged ≥65 years from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation records during 2005-2011. To this data, we included mortality data, such as the date of death, of these patients (up to and including 2017) from Statistics Korea. We defined weight change as a difference in bodyweight measured in the National Screening Program over a period of 4 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between weight change and mortality.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 1 100 256 participants, and a total of 46 415 deaths were observed during a mean follow-up period of 3.2 ± 0.8 years (maximum 5.0 years). For 3 531 585 person-year follow up, the mortality rate for stable weight was 10.79 per 1000 person-years (PY). Weight loss increased the mortality rate by 68%, whereas weight gain increased the rate by 10% compared with stable weight (weight loss: mortality rate 20.28 per 1000 PY, adjusted hazard ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.65-1.72; weight gain: mortality rate 12.86 per 1000 PY, adjusted hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.13). However, in subgroup analysis, for participants who were underweight at baseline, current cigarette smokers or heavy alcohol drinkers, weight gain did not increase the mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In Korean older adults, regardless of the risk factors, both weight loss and weight gain increased the mortality rate compared with stable weight. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 474-481.

Trajectories of body mass index in adulthood and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Limited research has assessed the association between patterns of body mass index (BMI) change across adulthood and mortality. We aimed to identify groups of individuals who followed specific group-based BMI trajectories across adulthood, using weight collected on three occasions and recalled data from early adulthood, and to examine associations with all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Melbourne, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (n=29 881) enrolled in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, who were aged from 40 to 70 years between 1990 and 1994, and had BMI data for at least three time points.

OUTCOME

Deaths from any cause before 31 March 2017 and deaths from obesity-related cancers, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other causes before 31 December 2013.

RESULTS

We identified six group-based BMI trajectories: lower-normal stable (TR1), higher-normal stable (TR2), normal to overweight (TR3), chronic borderline obesity (TR4), normal to class I obesity (TR5) and overweight to class II obesity (TR6). Generally, compared with maintaining lower-normal BMI throughout adulthood, the lowest mortality was experienced by participants who maintained higher-normal BMI (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.97); obesity during midlife was associated with higher all-cause mortality even when BMI was normal in early adulthood (HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.98 to 1.21) and prolonged borderline obesity from early adulthood was also associated with elevated mortality (HR 1.16; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.33). These associations were stronger for never-smokers and for death due to obesity-related cancers. Being overweight in early adulthood and becoming class II obese was associated with higher CVD mortality relative to maintaining lower-normal BMI (HR 2.27; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.87).

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the importance of weight management throughout adulthood to reduce mortality.

Waist circumference trajectories and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korean population: the Korean genome and epidemiology study (KoGES)

BACKGROUND

To classify waist circumference (WC) trajectories and examine each trajectory's association with risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

In Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES 2001-2014), 4992 participants aged 40 years and above who received biennial health examinations from wave 1 to wave 4 (2001-2008) were selected. Five distinct trajectory groups were identified for WC using group-based trajectory modeling methods such as censored normal model. Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association of trajectories with risk of T2DM.

RESULTS

During 31,118 person-years of follow-up (mean follow-up duration, 6.2 years), 276 incident cases of T2DM were identified. Through trajectory analysis, 5 distinct WC patterns were found during wave1 to wave 4, which were "Group A" was stable on very low levels, "Group B" was stable on low levels, "Group C" was stable on moderate levels, "Group D" had increasing pattern on elevated levels, "Group E" was shown increasing on high levels. Age-standardized incidences rates per 100,000 person-years were increased with WC expanding trajectory group (193.9 for Group A, 498.4 for Group B, 661.9 for Group C, 1845.9 for Group D, and 2045.0 for Group E). In multivariate analysis after adjusting for confounding variable at wave 4, Group B (Hazard ratio (HR), 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), and 1.1-4.6), Group C (HR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.0), Group D (HR: 5.4, 95% CI: 2.7-10.9), Group E (HR: 7.3, 95% CI: 3.5-15.4) had a higher risk of T2DM than Group A. After further adjusting for body mass index strongly correlated with WC, the association was attenuated.

CONCLUSIONS

WC trajectory was a significant predictor of T2DM risk in increasing trajectories on high level. This finding indicate the importance of WC management across prolong lifespan by assessing the prognosis and prevention strategies of high-risk populations for T2DM in middle-aged adults.

Midlife Body Mass Index Trajectory and Risk of Frailty 8 Years Later in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have focused on weight change and frailty, especially in Asia. This research aimed to evaluate midlife body mass index (BMI) trajectory and assess its relationship with frailty 8 years later in Taiwan.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging conducted from 1999 to 2007. The analysis was restricted to respondents aged between 50 to 69 years old, who were not frail in 1999 and were alive in 2007 (n=1609).

MEASUREMENTS

Frailty was defined using the Fried criteria. The group-based model of trajectory was used to estimate BMI trajectories among elderly participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between BMI change and frailty.

RESULTS

Four trajectory classes were identified and each remained stable during the 8-year follow-up. There were 316 participants (20.3%) in the low-normal weight group (baseline BMI=20.38 kg/m2), 737 participants (44.7%) in the high-normal weight group (baseline BMI=23.22 kg/m2), 449 participants (28.4%) in the overweight group (baseline BMI=26.24 kg/m2), and 107 participants (6.6%) in the obesity group (baseline BMI=30.65 kg/m2). After adjustment for confounding factors, the low-normal weight group and obesity group were associated with increased frailty compared with the high-normal weight group.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that the BMI trajectories of midlife individuals tended to be constant and those in both the low-normal weight group and obesity group had an increased risk of developing frailty in later life. Therefore, an optimal weight-targeting strategy should be considered for Asian elderly individuals.

Association between body mass index and mortality in the Korean elderly: A nationwide cohort study

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in the elderly. This study was a nation-wide population-based retrospective cohort study of the National Health Insurance System-Senior Database (NHIS-SD). In this study, a total of 75,856 subjects were identified and selected from among 251,593 individuals aged ≥ 65 years who underwent health screening at least once between 2009 and 2012 and who had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The subjects of this study were followed-up until 2013 to identify the total mortality and the cause-specific mortality of 6 groups divided according to BMI. The hazard ratio (HR) by reference group (23 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m²) of each group was calculated. A significant increase in the HR with a decreased BMI was observed in the group with a BMI < 23 kg/m², whereas the HR in the group with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² was not significantly different than that of the reference group (23 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m²). This pattern was also seen in the subgroup analyses in relation to age, smoking history, alcohol use, exercise level, and socioeconomic status. In this study, we found that a low BMI was a risk factor for death in the elderly and that no significant difference in mortality was seen in the elderly with a BMI of 25 or over. In terms of an optimal BMI in the elderly, it is important to maintain an appropriately healthy range of BMI with the aim of preventing weight loss.

Safety Outcomes Following Spine and Cranial Neurosurgery: Evidence From the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

BACKGROUND

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) was used to establish predictors for 30-day postoperative complications following spine and cranial neurosurgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP participant use files were queried for neurosurgical cases between 2005 and 2015. Prevalence of postoperative complications following neurosurgery was determined. Nested multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify demographic, comorbidity, and perioperative characteristics associated with any complication and mortality for spine and cranial surgery.

RESULTS

There were 175,313 neurosurgical cases (137,029 spine, 38,284 cranial) identified. A total of 23,723 (13.5%) patients developed a complication and 2588 (1.5%) patients died. Compared with spine surgery, cranial surgery had higher likelihood of any complication (22.2% vs. 11.1%; P<0.001) and mortality (4.8% vs. 0.5%; P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, cranial surgery had 2.73 times higher likelihood for mortality compared with spine surgery (95% confidence interval, 2.46-3.03; P<0.001), but demonstrated lower odds of any complication (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.97; P<0.001). There were 6 predictors (race, tobacco use, dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, and wound classification) significantly associated with any complication, but not mortality. Paradoxically, tobacco use had an unexplained protective effect on at least one complication or any complication. Similarly, increasing body mass index was protective for any complication and mortality, which suggests there may be a newly observed "obesity paradox" in neurosurgery.

CONCLUSIONS

After controlling for demographic characteristics, preoperative comorbidities, and perioperative factors, cranial surgery had higher risk for mortality compared with spine surgery despite lower risk for other complications. These findings highlight a discrepancy in the risk for postoperative complications following neurosurgical procedures that requires emphasis within quality improvement initiatives.

Three-year renal function trajectory and its association with adverse renal event in patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

The study evaluated associations between 3-year eGFR trajectory patterns and adverse renal event in diabetic patients.

METHODS

Adverse renal event was defined as sustained eGFR <60 or one ACR >300 mg/g creatinine. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated association between eGFR trajectory patterns and adverse renal event.

RESULTS

We detected six clusters. Cluster 1 had a stable but relatively low baseline eGFR level (n = 823, 20.52%), cluster 2 had a high baseline eGFR level, but slightly decreased afterwards (n = 1708, 42.59%), cluster 3 had an increasing eGFR during the first 15-month follow-up and then a decline rate (n = 505, 12.59%), cluster 4 decreased during the first 9-month follow-up and then remained stable (n = 774, 19.30%), cluster 5 had a sharp decline and then was elevated after 21 months until the end of follow-up (n = 135, 3.37%), and cluster 6 had an extremely fluctuating eGFR and then a sharp increase at the last 12-month period (n = 65, 1.62%). Clusters 1, 3, and 4 show increased adverse renal risks compared with cluster 2 (2.24, 1.69-2.97; 2.70, 2.02-3.61; and 2.15, 1.64-2.83, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with sustained low-level renal function, renal decline, or increasing trend in eGFR trajectory encountered an increased CKD risk.

Overweight or underweight and the risk of decline in activities of daily living in a 22-year cohort study of a Japanese sample

AIM

The present study aimed to clarify the association between body mass index (BMI) and the activities of daily living (ADL). Although BMI is likely to be concerned regarding the relationship with specific diseases or mortality, few studies have focused on the relationship of BMI and ADL.

METHODS

A total of 3353 Japanese participants of a 22-year cohort study from 1990 to 2012 aged 45-74 years at baseline were divided into four groups according to their BMI levels: ≤18.5, 18.5-21.9 (reference), 22.0-24.9 and ≥25.0 kg/m² . Outcomes were becoming dependent in ADL (including death after ADL decline) and death without observation of ADL decline as a competing risk. Sex-specific multinomial logistic regression analysis was carried out in 2017 to estimate the odds ratios (OR) after adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol drinking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and serum albumin.

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment, though the relationship between BMI and risk of ADL decline was U-shaped among women, only those with BMI ≥25.0 showed a higher risk for ADL decline (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.01-1.92) compared with the reference. The OR for death without observation of ADL decline was significantly lower for men with BMI ≥25.0 (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests being overweight is a good predictor of future decline in ADL for women, whereas men with BMI 22.0-24.9 had lower risks of ADL decline. Appropriate management of weight in older women could prevent disabilities. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 799-805.

Group-Based Trajectory of Body Shape From Ages 5 to 55 Years and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in 2 US Cohorts

The association of adiposity across the life span with cardiometabolic risk is not completely delineated. We used a group-based modeling approach to identify distinct trajectories of body shape from ages 5 years to 55 years among 84,792 women from the Nurses' Health Study (1976-2010) and 37,706 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2010) and assessed the associations between these trajectories and incidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) during a 17-year follow-up period. Compared with those who maintained leanness throughout the life span ("lean-stable" trajectory), participants who maintained a medium body shape ("medium-stable" trajectory) had somewhat increased risk. Those who started lean but had a moderate or marked increase in adiposity ("lean-moderate increase" and "lean-marked increase" trajectories) had even higher risk (e.g., for a "lean-marked increase" trajectory, the hazard ratio for diabetes was 8.11 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 7.10, 9.27) in women and 2.36 (95% CI: 2.04, 2.74) in men; for CVD, it was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.25, 1.52) in women and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.41) in men). Participants who started heavy and became heavier (a "heavy-increase" trajectory) had substantially elevated risk (for diabetes, the hazard ratio was 7.34 (95% CI: 6.40, 8.42) in women and 2.80 (95% CI: 2.37, 3.31) in men; for CVD, it was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.40, 1.71) in women and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.53) in men). Our data showed that trajectories of body shape from ages 5 to 55 years were associated with subsequent risk of developing type 2 diabetes and CVD.

Heterogeneity in Trajectories of Body Mass Index and Their Associations with Mortality in Old Age: A Literature Review

This article reviewed studies to investigate the association between trajectories of body mass index (BMI) and mortality among older adults. Investigators conducted a systematic search of published peer-reviewed literature in the PubMed database, and three articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria for the review were identified. All of these studies used group-based trajectory models to identify distinct BMI trajectories. Two studies were derived from the U.S. and used data from the Health and Retirement Study, with up to nine repeated observations. Most of the BMI trajectories in older Americans were increasing and fell primarily within the overweight and obese ranges. The other study was from Japan and used nationwide data, with up to seven repeated observations. BMI trajectories identified in the older Japanese were mostly decreasing and fell primarily within the normal weight range. Although the distribution of BMI trajectories was different between the two nations, the findings from these three studies consistently demonstrated that people with stable overweight trajectories had the lowest all-cause mortality rates in both countries. Beyond this, however, these studies suggested that priorities for weight control in old age should likely differ between Western and non-Western countries. Research regarding BMI trajectories and mortality in old age is very limited at present. Evidence from countries other than the U.S. and Japan is warranted in order to validate current findings and guide the development of local clinical and public health strategies for body weight management aimed at improving the health and survival of older adults.

Delineation of body mass index trajectory predicting lowest risk of mortality in U.S. men using generalized additive mixed model

PURPOSE

Few studies have delineated body mass index (BMI) trajectories that associate with premature mortality, which is defined as death occurring before age 75 years.

METHODS

We used generalized additive mixed model to identify BMI trajectories of individuals dying before or after age 75 years among 14,172 U.S. men. We used logistic regression to validate whether the BMI trajectory developed predicted mortality in an independent cohort of 7000 participants.

RESULTS

Comparing to participants with age at death less than 75 years, the BMI among participants with age at death 75 years or more was lower throughout adulthood, and the mean BMI was 23.98, 24.63, 25.33, and 25.29 kg/m2 at age 40, 50, 60, and 70 years. In the validation cohort, participants following the BMI trajectory with age at death less than 75 years had higher risks of total mortality (odds ratio: 1.35; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.78) and cardiovascular disease mortality (1.92; 1.10-3.35) compared to participants following the trajectory with age at death 75 years or more. Participants whose BMI trajectories diverged the most from the trajectory with age at death 75 years or more had highest risks of total mortality (1.72; 1.23-2.40) and cardiovascular disease mortality (3.06; 1.49-6.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Individual is suggested to maintain a normal BMI throughout adulthood to have greater longevity.

Dynamics of biomarkers in relation to aging and mortality

Contemporary longitudinal studies collect repeated measurements of biomarkers allowing one to analyze their dynamics in relation to mortality, morbidity, or other health-related outcomes. Rich and diverse data collected in such studies provide opportunities to investigate how various socio-economic, demographic, behavioral and other variables can interact with biological and genetic factors to produce differential rates of aging in individuals. In this paper, we review some recent publications investigating dynamics of biomarkers in relation to mortality, which use single biomarkers as well as cumulative measures combining information from multiple biomarkers. We also discuss the analytical approach, the stochastic process models, which conceptualizes several aging-related mechanisms in the structure of the model and allows evaluating "hidden" characteristics of aging-related changes indirectly from available longitudinal data on biomarkers and follow-up on mortality or onset of diseases taking into account other relevant factors (both genetic and non-genetic). We also discuss an extension of the approach, which considers ranges of "optimal values" of biomarkers rather than a single optimal value as in the original model. We discuss practical applications of the approach to single biomarkers and cumulative measures highlighting that the potential of applications to cumulative measures is still largely underused.

Trajectory of body shape in early and middle life and all cause and cause specific mortality: results from two prospective US cohort studies

OBJECTIVE

To assess body shape trajectories in early and middle life in relation to risk of mortality.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

POPULATION

80 266 women and 36 622 men who recalled their body shape at ages 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 years and provided body mass index at age 50, followed from age 60 over a median of 15-16 years for death.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All cause and cause specific mortality.

RESULTS

Using a group based modeling approach, five distinct trajectories of body shape from age 5 to 50 were identified: lean-stable, lean-moderate increase, lean-marked increase, medium-stable/increase, and heavy-stable/increase. The lean-stable group was used as the reference. Among never smokers, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for death from any cause was 1.08 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.14) for women and 0.95 (0.88 to 1.03) for men in the lean-moderate increase group, 1.43 (1.33 to 1.54) for women and 1.11 (1.02 to 1.20) for men in the lean-marked increase group, 1.04 (0.97 to 1.12) for women and 1.01 (0.94 to 1.09) for men in the medium-stable/increase group, and 1.64 (1.49 to 1.81) for women and 1.19 (1.08 to 1.32) for men in the heavy-stable/increase group. For cause specific mortality, participants in the heavy-stable/increase group had the highest risk, with a hazard ratio among never smokers of 2.30 (1.88 to 2.81) in women and 1.45 (1.23 to 1.72) in men for cardiovascular disease, 1.37 (1.14 to 1.65) in women and 1.07 (0.89 to 1.30) in men for cancer, and 1.59 (1.38 to 1.82) in women and 1.10 (0.95 to 1.29) in men for other causes. The trajectory-mortality association was generally weaker among ever smokers than among never smokers (for all cause mortality: P for interaction <0.001 in women and 0.06 in men). When participants were classified jointly according to trajectories and history of type 2 diabetes, the increased risk of death associated with heavier body shape trajectories was more pronounced among participants with type 2 diabetes than those without diabetes, and those in the heavy-stable/increase trajectory and with a history of diabetes had the highest risk of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the trajectory approach, we found that heavy body shape from age 5 up to 50, especially the increase in middle life, was associated with higher mortality. In contrast, people who maintained a stably lean body shape had the lowest mortality. These results indicate the importance of weight management across the lifespan.

Association of breakfast consumption with body mass index and prevalence of overweight/obesity in a nationally-representative survey of Canadian adults

Background

This study examined the association of breakfast consumption, and the type of breakfast consumed, with body mass index (BMI; kg/m²) and prevalence rates and odds ratios (OR) of overweight/obesity among Canadian adults. These associations were examined by age group and sex.

Methods

We used data from non-pregnant, non-lactating participants aged ≥ 18 years (n = 12,377) in the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.2, a population-based, nationally-representative, cross-sectional study. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Breakfast consumption was self-reported during a standardized 24-h recall; individuals were classified as breakfast non-consumers, consumers of breakfasts that included ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) or as other breakfast consumers. Mean BMI and prevalence and OR of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25) were compared among breakfast groups, with adjustment for sociodemographic variables (including age, sex, race, marital status, food security, language spoken at home, physical activity category, smoking, education level and supplement use).

Results

For the entire sample, mean BMI was significantly lower among RTEC-breakfast consumers than other breakfast consumers (mean ± SE 26.5 ± 0.2 vs. 27.1 ± 0.1 kg/m²), but neither group differed significantly from breakfast non-consumers (27.1 ± 0.3 kg/m²). Similar results were seen in women only, but BMI of men did not differ by breakfast category. Overweight/obesity prevalence and OR did not differ among breakfast groups for the entire sample or for all men and women separately. When examined by sex and age group, differences were inconsistent, but tended to be more apparent in women than men.

Conclusion

Among Canadian adults, breakfast consumption was not consistently associated with differences in BMI or overweight/obesity prevalence.