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  • Original Article
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The influence of body mass index, age and gender on current illness: a cross-sectional study

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 429–436 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Context:

Obesity poses a significant health risk, but health risk is not equivalent to actual health status. Further, age and gender might alter the effect of body weight on physical health.

Objective:

To determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), age, gender and current health status.

Design:

Data from the 1988–1994, 2003–2004 and 2005–2006 National Health & Nutrition Examination Surveys were weighted to represent the US population. BMI, age, gender and current medication use were analyzed in a sample-adjusted 9071 women and 8880 men.

Main Outcome Measures:

The percentage of participants taking medication and the total number of medications taken.

Results:

In both the 1988–1994 and 2003–2006 data sets, with few exceptions, medication loads did not increase significantly in overweight compared with normal-weight people. Medication loads increased significantly in obese compared with normal-weight people aged 40+, but only marginally at 25–39 years. Medication loads were higher in women than men, but significantly less so in people aged 55–70.

Conclusions:

First, medication loads, a measure of current health status, were increased in obese compared with the normal-weight people, but the effect was mainly at ages over 40 years. In addition, BMI category contributed less to medication loads at ages 25–39 than in older groups. Second, there was little difference in current health status in normal-weight versus overweight people at all ages. Finally, higher medication loads in women than men are more apparent in younger than older people. Although obesity does not substantially affect current health in young people, it is likely that the increased medication loads in obese compared with normal-weight older people originates at least in part from an increased BMI starting at a younger age. Thus, age, gender and onset of high BMI all require consideration when using BMI to assess current health status.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Brian Wells, Mike Talley and Joe Olsen of Brigham Young University, and Daniel Bloch of Stanford University, for their help with statistical analyses. No compensation was received for their work. The research presented herein was supported by funds from Brigham Young University for the conduct of the study, data collection, management and analysis, and preparation of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychology and the Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, 84604, UT, USA

    B Jarrett, G J Bloch, D Bennett, B Bleazard & D Hedges

Authors
  1. B Jarrett
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  2. G J Bloch
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  3. D Bennett
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  4. B Bleazard
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  5. D Hedges
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Jarrett.

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Author contributions

George Bloch and Brant Jarrett had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Brant Jarrett contributed to the conception and design of the study, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, statistical analysis, supervision, and drafting and critical revision of the paper. George J Bloch contributed to the conception and design of the study, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, statistical analysis, supervision, funding, administrative and technical support, and drafting and critical revision of the paper. Danny Bennet and Brock Bleazard contributed to the data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, and statistical analysis. Dawson Hedges contributed to the conception and design of the study, the analysis and interpretation of the data, and the drafting and critical revision of the paper.

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Jarrett, B., Bloch, G., Bennett, D. et al. The influence of body mass index, age and gender on current illness: a cross-sectional study. Int J Obes 34, 429–436 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.258

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