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The effect of body mass index on self-rated health in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

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Abstract

Background and aims

Health promotion for middle-aged and older people has received a lot of attention recently in the context of healthy aging. Furthermore, it is unclear how body mass index (BMI) presently affects self-rated health (SRH), a reliable and representative indicator of health.

Methods

This study used longitudinal follow-up data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Systematic collection of information on the socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health status of the subjects. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between BMI and SRH, and gender-specific variations were examined. Subgroup analysis was used to examine interactions, and the results of the research stability were demonstrated.

Results

After adjusting for age, gender, education level, marital status, place of residence, number of chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, smoking, depressive symptoms, and SRH at baseline, it was found that obesity grade 1 and obesity grade 2 were good contributors to SRH compared to normal weight individuals, and this association was different in males and females. According to the results of the subgroup analyses, those under 65 years old, with junior high school or less education, with a spouse, residing in a city, having one chronic disease, and not smoking or drinking, respectively, all had stable positive associations between obesity and SRH.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that obesity may be associated with good SRH. Teams of healthcare professionals should revisit the potential impact of obesity among middle-aged and older adults and focus on developing prevention strategies for morbid obesity.

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Acknowledgements

We affirm that the Work submitted for publication is original and has not been published other than as an abstract or preprint in any language or format and has not been submitted elsewhere for print or electronic publication consideration.

We affirm that each person listed as an author participated in the Work substantively, according to ICMJE authorship guidelines, and is prepared to take public responsibility for it. All authors consent to the investigation of any improprieties that may be alleged regarding the Work. Each author further releases and holds harmless the Endocrine Society from any claim or liability that may arise therefrom.

Funding

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (82172543); The Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2020MH006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China

    Jingyi Wang, Yingying Cai, Xiaohe Ren, Bin Ma & Ou Chen

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  1. Jingyi Wang
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  2. Yingying Cai
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Contributions

JW served as principal author and had full access to all the data in the study, taking responsibility for the accuracy of the data analysis, and the integrity of the data. YC and XR contributed to the conception and design. JW, BM contributed to data acquisition and interpretation. JW contributed to the draft of the manuscript. OC contributed to revising the article and final approval.

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Correspondence to Ou Chen.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethical approval

The Biomedical Ethics Review Committee of Peking University approved CHARLS. Each participant signed an informed consent form in writing. IRB00001052-11015 was the number for ethical approval.

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Wang, J., Cai, Y., Ren, X. et al. The effect of body mass index on self-rated health in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study. Aging Clin Exp Res 35, 2929–2939 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02585-7

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