Body-mass index and 4-year change in health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of body-mass index (BMI) categories (a proxy for adiposity) on 4-year changes in health-related quality of life (HRQL) independent of baseline disease severity.

DESIGN: Secondary analyses of a prospective, longitudinal study.

PARTICIPANTS: Data on 7,895 adults ages 51 to 61 years who responded to the Health and Retirement Surveys in 1992, 1994, and 1996 were included.

RESULTS: Estimates of the effect of BMI on changes in HRQL were adjusted by disease severity. Each BMI category was associated with an increasing risk of decline in perceived health, with the highest risk in the higher categories. A BMI of between 30 and 35 was associated with a risk of decline in mobility.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a significant impact of BMI on changes in HRQL that is independent of disease severity and baseline HRQL.