| OBJECTIVES. The prevalence of obesity in old age is increasing over time. Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) among persons aged 55-64 years showed a dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity from 9.5% to 18.4% in men and from 20.5% to 27.5% in women between 1992-1993 and 2002-2003. Age-related body composition changes may have serious complications for the interpretation of currently used indices to assess obesity. First, because of a decrease in body length in the elderly, both BMI and waist circumference may be overestimated. Secondly, the amount of lean body mass decreases with age, which causes older adults to have, on average, more fat than younger adults at any given BMI. Finally, waist circumference should be interpreted differently in elderly because of a redistribution of body fat from the extremities towards the abdomen. Because of these age-related changes in body composition there is a need to consider evidence for older persons when establishing standards for healthy weight. The aims of this project are to investigate: 1) if current indices and cut-off points to assess obesity are valid in old age; 2) criteria for optimal body weight / body composition for healthy aging; and 3) life-course factors that may contribute to (the development of) obesity in old age. METHODS. The research aims will be addressed using statistical analyses of existing data from (inter) national, prospective cohort studies conducted among older persons. Initially, longitudinal analyses of associations of health outcomes, including functional status, incident chronic disease and quality of life, with different indices of obesity will be assessed using the LASA data (n = 3107 at baseline). |
