Cited by 323Nutrition and Health in AgingObesity, Physical Activity, DietBody Composition Measurement Techniques

The Obesity Paradox in the Elderly: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

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Oreopoulos, Antigone, Kalantar-Zadeh, Kamyar, Sharma, Arya M., Fonarow, Gregg C.·2009·Clinics in Geriatric Medicine

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the elderly has become a growing concern. Recent evidence indicates that in the elderly, obesity is paradoxically associated with a lower, not higher, mortality risk. Although obesity in the general adult population is associated with higher mortality, this relationship is unclear for persons of advanced age and has lead to great controversy regarding the relationship between obesity and mortality in the elderly, the definition of obesity in the elderly, and the need for its treatment in this population. This article examines the evidence on these controversial issues, explores potential explanations for these findings, discusses the clinical implications, and provides recommendations for further research in this area.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cger.2009.07.005

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  • A paradoxical survival advantage with higher BMI exists in the elderly and in a broad range of illnesses, including diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure, acute heart failure, coronary artery disease, and percutaneous coronary artery interventions.

    “the case is strong that such a paradoxical relation exists in the elderly, 7 and accompanying a broad range of illnesses, including diabetes mellitus, 8 chronic heart failure, 9,10 acute heart failure, 11 coronary artery disease, 12 and percutaneous coronary artery interventions.13”

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Authors
Oreopoulos, A., Kalantar-Zadeh, K., Sharma, A. M., & Fonarow, G. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Alberta (CA)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Oreopoulos, Antigone
Venue
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-11
Volume
25
Issue
4
Pages
643-659
ISSN
0749-0690 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1997453905
Cited by
323
References
114
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 23
FWCI
1.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinics in Geriatric Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
Keywords
obesity paradox, older adults, obesity, mortality risk, overweight, obesity definition, obesity treatment
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cause of Death, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrition Surveys, Obesity, Physical Fitness, Quality of Life, Risk, Sex Factors, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index, Survival Rate

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