EFFECT OF BODY-MASS INDEX ON ACTIVITY LIMITATION AND MORTALITY AMONG OLDER WOMEN - THE NATIONAL-HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1986-1990

We assessed the impact of body mass on the association between activit y limitations due to chronic conditions and mortality among 24,612 non institutionalized white or African American women aged greater than or equal to 65 years who participated in a National Health Interview Sur vey between 1986 and 1990. We found that more African American women h ad activity limitations than white women (59% vs 46%, respectively). T he difference by race was greatest (19% vs 10%) for the most severe li mitation (unable to perform the major activity). For women aged 65-69, the major activity was working or keeping house; for those aged great er than or equal to 70, it was the ability to live independently. For white women in all three categories of body mass index (BMI) and for A frican American women with BMI 15%-85%, the risk of dying was signific antly higher for those unable to perform the major activity than for t hose with no limitations, controlling for the effects of education, ma rital status, and perceived health. The findings confirm the establish ed link between low BMI and mortality and between activity limitations and mortality. Additionally, the findings further suggest that activi ty limitations linked to chronic conditions increase the risk of death within each stratum of BMI after adjusting for potential confounders.