Obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults
Open accessAbstract
We examine obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults. Based on prospective epidemiological studies, body mass index exhibits a curvilinear relationship with physical disability; there appears to be some protective effect associated with older adults being overweight. Whereas the greatest risk for physical disability occurs in older adults who are ≥class II obesity, the effects of obesity on physical disability appears to be moderated by both sex and race. Obesity at age 30 years constitutes a greater risk for disability later in life than when obesity develops at age 50 years or later; however, physical activity may buffer the adverse effects obesity has on late life physical disability. Data from a limited number of randomized clinical trials reinforce the important role that physical activity plays in weight loss programmes for older adults. Furthermore, short-term studies have found that resistance training may be particularly beneficial in these programmes as this mode of exercise attenuates the loss of fat-free mass during caloric restriction. Multi-year randomized clinical trials are needed to examine whether weight loss can alter the course of physical disablement in aging and to determine the long-term feasibility and effects of combining resistance exercise with weight loss in older adults.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin
(2002) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa012512 · Cited by 19,011 · see citing works
Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade (CIF)
Battistella, L. R., & de Brito, C. M. M. (2002) · Acta Fisiátrica · doi:10.5935/0104-7795.20020003 · Cited by 4,470 · see citing works
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) 2001
Jiménez-Buñuales, M. T., Diego, P. G., & Moreno, J. M. ª. M. (2002) · Revista Española de Salud Pública · doi:10.1590/s1135-57272002000400002 · Cited by 3,267 · see citing works
General and abdominal adiposity and risk of death in Europe
Pischon, T., Boeing, H., Hoffmann, K., Bergmann, M., Schulze, M. B., Overvad, K., van der Schouw, Y. T., Spencer, E., Moons, K. G. M., Tjønneland, A., et al. (2008) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa0801891 · Cited by 2,155 · see citing works
Transitions between frailty states among community-living older persons
Gill, T. M., Gahbauer, E. A., Allore, H. G., & Han, L. (2006) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.166.4.418 · Cited by 1,141 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Additionally, although disability in aging is often treated as a ‘trait’, research suggests that older adults move in and out of disability; suggesting that the concept is a ‘state’ (53,54).”
BackgroundMessier, S. P., Loeser, R. F., Miller, G. D., Morgan, T. M., Rejeski, W. J., Sevick, M. A., Ettinger, W. H., Pahor, M., & Williamson, J. D. (2004) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.20256 · Cited by 1,065 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Public Health Impact of Obesity
Visscher, T. L. S., & Seidell, J. C. (2001) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.22.1.355 · Cited by 1,013 · see citing works
High-intensity resistance training improves glycemic control in older patients with type 2 diabetes
Dunstan, D. W., Daly, R. M., Owen, N., Jolley, D., de Courten, M., Shaw, J., & Zimmet, P. (2002) · Diabetes Care · doi:10.2337/diacare.25.10.1729 · Cited by 771 · see citing works
The Look AHEAD Research Group (2003) · Controlled Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/s0197-2456(03)00064-3 · Cited by 767 · see citing works
The LIFE Study Investigators* [*See Appendix for List of LIFE Study Investigators] (2006) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/61.11.1157 · Cited by 661 · see citing works
Some conceptual issues in disability and rehabilitation
Nagi, S. Z. (1965) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 621 · see citing works
Villareal, D. T., Apovian, C. M., Kushner, R. F., & Klein, S. (2005) · Obesity Research · doi:10.1038/oby.2005.228 · Cited by 579 · see citing works
HYPERTENSION: Trends in Prevalence, Incidence, and Control
Hajjar, I. M., Kotchen, J. M., & Kotchen, T. A. (2006) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.27.021405.102132 · Cited by 528 · see citing works
Launer, L. J. (1994) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.271.14.1093 · Cited by 487 · see citing works
Bourestom, N. C., & Sussman, M. B. (1967) · Journal of Health and Social Behavior · doi:10.2307/2948350 · Cited by 419 · see citing works
A Prospective Study of Weight Change and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women
Fine, J. T. (1999) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.282.22.2136 · Cited by 417 · see citing works
The changing relationship of obesity and disability, 1988–2004
Alley, D. E., & Chang, V. W. (2007) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.298.17.2020 · Cited by 414 · see citing works
Measuring and Monitoring Success in Compressing Morbidity
Fries, J. F. (2003) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-139-5_part_2-200309021-00015 · Cited by 373 · see citing works
Galanos, A. N., Pieper, C. F., Cornoni‐Huntley, J. C., Bales, C. W., & Fillenbaum, G. G. (1994) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb07483.x · Cited by 311 · see citing works
The Effect of Obesity on Disability vs Mortality in Older Americans
Snih, S. A. (2007) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.167.8.774 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
Effect of weight loss and exercise on frailty in obese older adults
Villareal, D. T., Banks, M., Sinacore, D. R., Siener, C., & Klein, S. (2006) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.166.8.860 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
Increasing Obesity Rates And Disability Trends
Sturm, R., Ringel, J. S., & Andreyeva, T. (2004) · Health Affairs · doi:10.1377/hlthaff.23.2.199 · Cited by 295 · see citing works
Obesity Is Associated with Functional Decline in Community‐Dwelling Rural Older Persons
Jensen, G. L., & Friedmann, J. M. (2002) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50220.x · Cited by 261 · see citing works
Litman, T. J., & Sussman, M. B. (1967) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2091042 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Miller, G. D., Nicklas, B. J., Davis, C., Loeser, R. F., Lenchik, L., & Messier, S. P. (2006) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2006.139 · Cited by 247 · see citing works
Body Mass Index and Disability in Adulthood: A 20-Year Panel Study
Ferraro, K. F., Su, Y.-P., Gretebeck, R. J., Black, D. R., & Badylak, S. F. (2002) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.92.5.834 · Cited by 246 · see citing works
Yates, L. B., Djoussé, L., Kurth, T., Buring, J. E., & Gaziano, J. M. (2008) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2007.77 · Cited by 233 · see citing works
Exercise attenuates the weight-loss-induced reduction in muscle mass in frail obese older adults
FRIMEL, T. N., SINACORE, D. R., & VILLAREAL, D. T. (2008) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31816a85ce · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Bales, C. W., & Buhr, G. T. (2008) · Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2008.01.006 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
The Black/White Disability Gap: Persistent Inequality in Later Life?
Kelley‐Moore, J. A., & Ferraro, K. F. (2004) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/59.1.s34 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Obese, older adults with knee osteoarthritis: Weight loss, exercise, and quality of life.
Rejeski, W. J., Focht, B. C., Messier, S. P., Morgan, T., Pahor, M., & Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2002) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037//0278-6133.21.5.419 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Impact of Obesity on Active Life Expectancy in Older American Men and Women
Reynolds, S. L., Saito, Y., & Crimmins, E. M. (2005) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/45.4.438 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Morbidity and Mortality Risk Associated With an Overweight BMI in Older Men and Women
Janssen, I. (2007) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2007.217 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Obesity, Physical Function, and Mortality in Older Adults
Lang, I., Llewellyn, D. J., Alexander, K., & Melzer, D. R. (2008) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01813.x · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Friedmann, J. M., Elasy, T. A., & Jensen, G. L. (2001) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49082.x · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Focht, B. C., Rejeski, W. J., Ambrosius, W. T., Katula, J. A., & Messier, S. P. (2005) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/art.21466 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Self-citationObese, older adults with knee osteoarthritis: Weight loss, exercise, and quality of life.
Rejeski, W. J., Focht, B. C., Messier, S. P., et al. (2002) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.21.5.419 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Self-citationObesity's Effects on the Onset of Functional Impairment Among Older Adults
Jenkins, K. R. (2004) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/44.2.206 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
de Leon, C. F. M., Barnes, L. L., Bienias, J. L., Skarupski, K. A., & Evans, D. A. (2005) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/60.5.s263 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Adult Obesity and the Burden of Disability throughout Life
Peeters, A., Bonneux, L. G. A., Nusselder, W. J., Laet, C. E. D. H. D., & Barendregt, J. J. (2004) · Obesity Research · doi:10.1038/oby.2004.143 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Bannerman, E., Miller, M., Daniels, L., Cobiac, L., Giles, L. C., Whitehead, C., Andrews, G. R., & Crotty, M. (2002) · Public Health Nutrition · doi:10.1079/phn2002336 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Explaining the Role of Sex on Disability
Wray, L. A., & Blaum, C. S. (2001) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/41.4.499 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Short-Term Dynamics of Disability and Well-Being
Verbrugge, L. M., Reoma, J. M., & Gruber‐Baldini, A. L. (1994) · Journal of Health and Social Behavior · doi:10.2307/2137359 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Bouchard, D. R., Soucy, L., Sénéchal, M., Dionne, I. J., & Brochu, M. (2009) · Menopause · doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31817dacf7 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Joint Effects of Adiposity and Physical Activity on Incident Mobility Limitation in Older Adults
Koster, A., Patel, K. V., Visser, M., van Eijk, J. T. M., Kanaya, A. M., de Rekeneire, N., Newman, A. B., Tylavsky, F. A., Kritchevsky, S. B., Harris, T. B., et al. (2008) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01632.x · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Correlates of Health‐Related Quality of Life in Overweight and Obese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Rejeski, W. J., Lang, W., Neiberg, R. H., Dorsten, B. V., Foster, G. D., Maciejewski, M. L., Rubin, R. R., & Williamson, D. F. (2006) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2006.101 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Self-citationLifestyle Factors and Incident Mobility Limitation in Obese and Non‐obese Older Adults
Koster, A., Penninx, B. W. J. H., Newman, A. B., Visser, M., van Gool, C. H., Harris, T. B., van Eijk, J. T. M., Kempen, G. I. J. M., Brach, J. S., Simonsick, E. M., et al. (2007) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2007.372 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Lang, I., Guralnik, J. M., & Melzer, D. R. (2007) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01426.x · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Locomotor disability in a cohort of British men: the impact of lifestyle and disease
Ebrahim, S. B. J., Wannamethee, S. G., Whincup, P. H., Walker, M., & Shaper, A. G. (2000) · International Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/ije/29.3.478 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Brach, J. S., VanSwearingen, J. M., FitzGerald, S. J., Storti, K. L., & Kriska, A. M. (2004) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.02.044 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Houston, D. K., Stevens, J., & Cai, J. (2005) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803043 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Age, Body Mass Index, and Functional Illness
Ferraro, K. F., & Booth, T. L. (1999) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/54b.6.s339 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
US trends in disability and institutionalization among older Blacks and Whites.
Clark, D. O. (1997) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.87.3.438 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Stenholm, S., Sainio, P., Rantanen, T., Koskinen, S. V. P., Jula, A. M., Heliövaara, M., & Aromaa, A. (2007) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/62.8.859 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Nutrient intake and BMI as predictors of severity of ADL disability over 1 year in homebound elders.
Sharkey, J. R., Branch, L. G., Giuliani, C. A., Zohoori, M., & Haines, P. S. (2004) · PubMed · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Obesity, weight change, and functional decline in peripheral arterial disease
McDermott, M. M., Criqui, M. H., Ferrucci, L., Guralnik, J. M., Tian, L., Liu, K., Greenland, P., Tan, J. R., Schneider, J. R., Clark, E. T., et al. (2006) · Journal of Vascular Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2006.02.036 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Bruce, B., Fries, J. F., & Hubert, H. B. (2008) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2007.119909 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Zoico, E., Francesco, V. D., Mazzali, G., Zivelonghi, A., Volpato, S., Bortolani, A., Dioli, A., Coin, A., Bosello, O., & Zamboni, M. M. (2007) · Aging Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1007/bf03324682 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Is Disability Obesity's Price of Longevity?
Gregg, E. W., & Guralnik, J. M. (2007) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.298.17.2066 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Obesity Is a Risk Factor for Reporting Homebound Status among Community‐Dwelling Older Persons
Jensen, G. L., Silver, H. J., Roy, M., Callahan, E., Still, C. D., & Dupont, W. D. (2006) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2006.66 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Oophorectomy and cardiovascular mortality
Parker, W. H., & Manson, J. E. (2009) · Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society · doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e31818d64d6 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Obesity Influences Transitional States of Disability in Older Adults With Knee Pain
Rejeski, W. J., Ip, E. H., Marsh, A. P., Zhang, Q., & Miller, M. E. (2008) · Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2008.05.013 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationRelative Weight and Mobility: A Longitudinal Study in a Biracial Population of Older Adults
de Leon, C. F. M., Hansberry, M. R., Bienias, J. L., Morris, M. C., & Evans, D. A. (2006) · Annals of Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2006.05.002 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Predictors of recovery in activities of daily living among disabled older Mexican Americans
Snih, S. A., Markides, K. S., Ostir, G. V., Ray, L., & Goodwin, J. S. (2003) · Aging Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1007/bf03324516 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Ohmori, K., Kuriyama, S., Hozawa, A., Ohkubo, T., Tsubono, Y., & Tsuji, I. (2005) · Gerontology · doi:10.1159/000083992 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Weight loss, exercise, or both and physical function in obese older adults
Villareal, D. T., Chode, S., Parimi, N., Sinacore, D. R., Hilton, T., Armamento-Villareal, R., Napoli, N., Qualls, C., & Shah, K. (2011) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa1008234 · Cited by 1,096 · see citing works
Lifestyle change and mobility in obese adults with type 2 diabetes
Rejeski, W. J., Ip, E. H., Bertoni, A. G., Bray, G. A., Evans, G., Gregg, E. W., & Zhang, Q. (2012) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa1110294 · Cited by 301 · see citing works
Self-citationIntentional Weight Loss and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Kritchevsky, S. B., Beavers, K. M., Miller, M. E., Shea, M. K., Houston, D. K., Kitzman, D. W., & Nicklas, B. J. (2015) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121993 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Freiberger, E., Goisser, S., Porzel, S., Volkert, D., Kemmler, W., Sieber, C., & Bollheimer, C. (2015) · Clinical Interventions in Aging · doi:10.2147/cia.s82454 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Rejeski, W. J., Brubaker, P. H., Goff, D. C., Bearon, L. B., McClelland, J. W., Perri, M. G., & Ambrosius, W. T. (2011) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2010.522 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Self-citationNicklas, B. J., Chmelo, E., Delbono, O., Carr, J. J., Lyles, M. F., & Marsh, A. P. (2015) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.105270 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Self-citationAnton, S. D., Karabetian, C., Naugle, K., & Buford, T. W. (2013) · Experimental Gerontology · doi:10.1016/j.exger.2013.06.007 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Fat mass loss predicts gain in physical function with intentional weight loss in older adults
Beavers, K. M., Miller, M. E., Rejeski, W. J., Nicklas, B. J., & Kritchevsky, S. B. (2013) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/gls092 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Self-citationCommunity Weight Loss to Combat Obesity and Disability in At-Risk Older Adults
Rejeski, W. J., Ambrosius, W. T., Burdette, J. H., Walkup, M. P., & Marsh, A. P. (2017) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/glw252 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Self-citationShea, M. K., Nicklas, B. J., Marsh, A. P., Houston, D. K., Miller, G. D., Isom, S., Miller, M. E., Carr, J. J., Lyles, M. F., Harris, T. B., et al. (2011) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2010.327 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citationMarsh, A. P., Kyla Shea, M., Vance Locke, R. M., Miller, M. E., Isom, S., Miller, G. D., Nicklas, B. J., Lyles, M. F., Carr, J. J., & Kritchevsky, S. B. (2013) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/gls258 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Self-citationKritchevsky, S. B. (2014) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/glt185 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Boyd, M. C., Burdette, J. H., Miller, M. E., Lyday, R. G., Hugenschmidt, C. E., Jack Rejeski, W., Simpson, S. L., Baker, L. D., Tomlinson, C. E., Kritchevsky, S. B., et al. (2024) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-024-01251-8 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Rejeski, W. J., Marsh, A. P., Chmelo, E., & Rejeski, J. J.
- Affiliations
- Wake Forest University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rejeski, W. J.
- Venue
- Obesity Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-08-25
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 671-685
- ISSN
- 1467-7881 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-789X
- PMC
- PMC2888667
- OpenAlex
- W2137919595
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Obesity Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (P30AG-21332, P30AG021332)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL076441-01A1, R18HL076441, R01HL076441)
- National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000211, M01RR007122)
- NIH Clinical Center
- 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 › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Keywords
- obesity, intentional weight loss, physical disability, older adults, body mass index, overweight, sex differences, racial differences, physical activity, resistance training, caloric restriction, fat-free mass loss, aging
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aging, Female, Persons with Disabilities, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Physical Fitness, Weight Loss, Exercise, Caloric Restriction, Resistance Training
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
