Sari Stenholm|Päivi Sainio|Taina Rantanen|Seppo Koskinen|Antti Jula|Markku Heliövaara|Arpo Aromaa
High Body Mass Index and Physical Impairments as Predictors of Walking Limitation 22 Years Later in Adult Finns
John Sealy Hospital|The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston|General Department of Preventive Medicine|General Department of Preventive Medicine
aim study effects high body mass index bmi physical impairments midlife later life walking limitationprimarily middleaged persons aged 3272 years walking limitation baseline n 840 followedup 22 years part minifinland followup survey incident walking limitation walking speed 12 ms difficulty walking 05 km predicted measured bmi handgrip strength squatting test selfreported running difficultiestwentyone percent participants developed walking limitation adjustment multiple potential confounders high bmi low handgrip strength impaired squatting running difficulties significant predictors incident walking limitation odds ratio walking limitation 455 95 confidence interval ci 1321574 squatting difficulties 239 95 ci 126455 major running difficulties compared participants difficulties corresponding ors handgrip strength bmi 056 95 ci 038081 139 95 ci 110175 per increment 1 standard deviation persons highest bmi tertile two physical impairments adjusted risk walking limitation 45 times higher comparison normal weight persons physical impairmentsin primarily middleaged persons bmi simple tests physical impairment strongly predicted development walking limitation 22 years later addition physical impairments coexisting high bmi predisposed later life walking limitation high bmi alone therefore increasing physical fitness physical activity promoting weight loss middle age may prevent mobility limitation subsequent disability old age