Belly fat may reveal more about longevity in older adults than BMI
CNN • • health
Key Points:
- A study of nearly 7,000 adults aged 65 and older found that being overweight by BMI was linked to a lower risk of early death, while a larger waist circumference was associated with a higher risk of early death, independent of BMI.
- Experts caution that the "obesity paradox" observed—where overweight older adults show lower mortality risk—does not mean excess body fat is protective; factors like reverse causation, survivorship bias, and BMI's limitations may explain the findings.
- BMI is an imperfect measure of health in older adults because it does not distinguish between muscle and fat mass, and aging-related changes in body composition can mask health risks.
- Waist circumference is a useful additional measure to estimate visceral fat, which is linked to metabolic risks; measuring it alongside BMI can provide better insights into an older adult's health.
- Older adults should prioritize physical activity, muscle strength, nutrition, and overall function rather than focusing solely on weight or BMI, and consult healthcare providers to assess health using multiple indicators beyond body weight.
