Weight Loss, Change In Body Shape Associated With Increased Mortality Risk In Healthy Older Adults: Study

The authors noted that weight loss in older men and women is linked with an increased mortality risk, irrespective of an individual's baseline weight.

Weight loss is usually linked with a healthier body and decreased risk of diseases. However, this is not always the case. According to a new study, weight loss and change in body shape is associated with an increased risk of mortality in healthy older adults. The increased risk of mortality was found to be more pronounced among men. This highlights the need to monitor and investigate weight loss in older adults, the authors noted in the study.

The study describing the findings was recently published in the journal JAMA Network Open. 

The research is important because not only does it explore the link between weight loss and mortality risk in older adults, but also highlights the significance of changes in waist circumference.

Weight loss, change in waist circumference can be a measure of mortality risk

Individuals may experience a slow but progressive decrease in weight, as they age. In contrast, some older adults may experience weight gain due to a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, physicians usually monitor weight changes in the elderly and advise their patients to focus particularly on the management of an idealised healthy weight. Previous studies have mostly focused on the significance of weight change in older adults with comorbidities. 

The authors noted that the clinical significance of weight change has not been well-documented in a population of healthy older individuals who are free of life-limiting illnesses. 

Why is waist circumference a better measure of mortality risk?

According to the authors, waist circumference can be a better measure than body weight to estimate risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and premature mortality because it captures the negative outcomes of abdominal adiposity, or fat deposition in the stomach. This may be associated with an enhanced release of inflammatory mediators. 

The authors noted that to their knowledge, data on the relative significance of changes in weight, waist circumference and cause-specific mortality have not been established in an ageing population. 

How the study was conducted

In order to examine the associations of changes in body weight and waist circumference with all-cause and cause-specific mortality, the researchers analysed data from the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomised clinical trial, which recruited participants between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2014. The study included 16,703 Australian participants aged 70 years and above, and 2,411 United States' participants aged 65 years and above. The participants had no evident cardiovascular disease, dementia, physical disability or life-limiting chronic illness. 

The researchers conducted the data analysis from April to September 2022. 

Mortality risk among men with a five to 10 per cent weight loss

According to the study, men with a five to 10 per cent weight loss had a 33 per cent higher risk of all-cause mortality, compared to men with stable weight. 

Mortality risk among men with more than 10 per cent weight loss

Men with a more than 10 per cent decrease in body weight had a 289 per cent higher risk. 

All-cause mortality risk included mortality risk from cancer, cardiovascular disease and non-cancer non-cardiovascular disease. 

Mortality risk among women with a five to 10 per cent weight loss

Women with a five to 10 per cent weight loss had a 26 per cent higher risk of all-cause mortality, compared to women with a stable weight. 

Mortality risk among women with more than 10 per cent weight loss

Women with a more than 10 per cent decrease in body weight had a 114 per cent higher risk.

A more than 10 per cent decrease in body weight in men and women, was linked with a higher cancer-specific mortality, and non-cancer non-cardiovascular disease-specific mortality. 

According to the study, a decrease in waist circumference was also linked with mortality. 

Link between mortality risk and weight loss of more than 10 per cent more pronounced in men

The authors noted that the association between a weight loss of more than 10 per cent and all-cause mortality was more pronounced among men. 

Mortality risk from weight loss between five and 10 per cent

Lesser weight loss, which is weight loss between five and 10 per cent, was linked with higher all-cause mortality for both sexes compared with stable weight. 

According to the study, weight loss between five and 10 per cent was associated with a higher cancer mortality for women and a higher non-cancer non-cardiovascular disease mortality for men.

Significance of the study

The authors noted that weight loss in older men and women is linked with an increased mortality risk, irrespective of an individual's baseline weight, which means that unanticipated weight loss even among adults with obesity is associated with increased mortality, regardless of other potential benefits of weight loss that are associated with quality of life and other morbidities. 

The authors concluded that the clinical implication of the study is that physicians should be aware of the significant association with mortality of even relatively minor weight loss, especially among older men. The risk of mortality extends beyond an increased risk of cancer, extending to cardiovascular disease and a range of other life-limiting conditions.