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Obesity, change of body mass index and subsequent physical and mental health functioning: a 12-year follow-up study among ageing employees

Authors :
Anna Svärd
Jouni Lahti
Eira Roos
Ossi Rahkonen
Eero Lahelma
Tea Lallukka
Minna Mänty
Source :
BMC Public Health, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2017)
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
BMC, 2017.

Abstract

Abstract Background Studies suggest an association between weight change and subsequent poor physical health functioning, whereas the association with mental health functioning is inconsistent. We aimed to examine whether obesity and change of body mass index among normal weight, overweight and obese women and men associate with changes in physical and mental health functioning. Methods The Helsinki Health Study cohort includes Finnish municipal employees aged 40 to 60 in 2000–02 (phase 1, response rate 67%). Phase 2 mail survey (response rate 82%) took place in 2007 and phase 3 in 2012 (response rate 76%). This study included 5668 participants (82% women). Seven weight change categories were formed based on body mass index (BMI) (phase 1) and weight change (BMI change ≥5%) (phase 1–2). The Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) measured physical and mental health functioning. The change in health functioning (phase 1–3) score was examined with repeated measures analyses. Covariates were age, sociodemographic factors, health behaviours, and somatic ill-health. Results Weight gain was common among women (34%) and men (25%). Weight-gaining normal weight (−1.3 points), overweight (−1.3 points) and obese (−3.6 points) women showed a greater decline in physical component summary scores than weight-maintaining normal weight women. Among weight-maintainers, only obese (−1.8 points) women showed a greater decline than weight-maintaining normal weight women. The associations were similar, but statistically non-significant for obese men. No statistically significant differences in the change in mental health functioning occurred. Conclusion Preventing weight gain likely helps maintaining good physical health functioning and work ability.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14712458
Volume :
17
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
BMC Public Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.b87fa4ceadf04f48b10f47ea1666bed4
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4768-8