Springer (part of Springer Nature), European Journal of Epidemiology
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-015-0027-4
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Obesity, whose prevalence is increasing, is associated with poor functional status at older ages. However, much of this evidence is cross-sectional with little known about longitudinal associations. We examined associations of body mass index (BMI), and change in BMI, with change in objective [walking speed (WS)] and self-reported (disability) measures of motor decline. Analyses included participants (65-85 years) from the Dijon center of the Three-City study (France) with up to five WS (N = 4007) and six disability assessments (N = 4478) over 11 years. Data were analyzed using regression models for repeated measures. Mean baseline WS was 153 cm/s. Compared to normal weight persons, obese participants at baseline walked slower and reported more disability; they also experienced 45 % faster WS decline (-18.63 vs. -12.85 cm/s/10 years, P = 0.002). Participants who lost or gained weight had 47 % (-18.85 cm/s/10 years, P