Weight Gain Among Elderly Women as Risk Factor for Disability: Health, Well-Being and Aging Study (SABE Study)

Objective: To examine the association between weight change and the incidence of disability in activities of daily living (ADL) among elderly women. Method: In 2006, 227 women aged >= 75 years and independent in ADL were selected from SABE Study (Health, Well-being, and Aging) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The dependent variable was the report of difficulty on >= 1 ADL in 2009. Differences in weight were calculated between baseline and second interview, and converted to percentage change in relation to initial weight. A change (gain or loss) >= 5% was considered significant. A logistic regression analysis was performed including sociodemographic and health-related variables. Results: After adjusting, weight gain remained associated to disability (OR = 2.42; p = .027), whereas weigh loss lost significance (OR = 1.66; p = .384). Discussion: Weight loss is generally considered more worrisome than weight gain in elderly. However, weight loss alone was not a risk factor for disability in our study.