The importance of body weight status for bone density in the elderly

Reduced bone density and osteoporosis are significant health problems and c ontributers to disability and mortality among older women and men. Therefor e the decline of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) are aspects of ageing with great medical and social significance. In recent years a low body weight was declared to be an important risk factor for th e development of osteoporosis. In the present study the impact of weight st atus, defined by the categories of the WHO, on BMC of the whole body and BM D of the proximal femur end, determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), were studied in 77 female and 62 male probands aged between 60 and 92 years (x = 71.7 yrs). With increasing weight status (BMI categories), B MC and BMD increased significantly (p < 0.001). This was true of both sexes . Even moderate overweight women and men (BMI 25.0-29.99) showed a signific antly higher bone density than their normal weight counterparts (BMI < 25.0 ). In the present study a marked positive impact of body weight on bone den sity of old-aged women and men could be shown.