Body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and cognitive function among Chinese elderly: a cross-sectional study.

Zhang, Tao; Yan, Rui; Chen, Qifeng; Ying, Xuhua; Zhai, Yujia; Li, Fudong; Wang, Xinyi; He, Fan et al. · BMJ Open · 2018

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

To investigate the associations between body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and cognitive function among Chinese elderly. Cross-sectional study. Community. Data were obtained from the baseline survey of a community-based cohort in Zhejiang Province, and 9326 persons aged 60 years and older were enrolled. We investigated the association between BMI and cognition, and then explored the association between WHR and cognition across different quartiles of BMI. A sample of 9087 persons was used in this study, including 4375 men and 4712 women. Higher WHR increased cognitive impairment risk in those with BMI >25.3 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (OR (per 0.1 increase) 1.39; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.70). No statistically significant association was found in other BMI categories. Higher WHR could increase the risk of cognitive impairment among elderly with BMI >25.3 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. Our results suggest that it could be of benefit to the elderly with high BMI to control WHR.

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