Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism· 2026Q1
Obesity and Midlife Performance: A Cross‐Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis of Women in the Menarche‐To‐ PreMenopause Study
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Women with a high-increasing BMI trajectory from early to mid-adulthood showed ~40% higher prevalence of worse chair-rise and standing-balance performance compared to those with a normal-increasing trajectory.
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Key points
- Women with a high-increasing BMI trajectory (25% of participants) had a ~40% higher prevalence of worse chair-rise and standing-balance performance.
- Higher annual weight gain percentage was associated with a 1.21 times higher prevalence of worse standing balance.
- Midlife obesity (BMI ≥ 30), high-risk WC (≥ 80 cm), and WHR (≥ 0.8) were linked to 1.41-1.55 times higher prevalence of worse chair rise and standing balance.
- Handgrip strength showed no consistent association with weight gain or obesity indicators.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background The interplay between obesity and physical performance in women is poorly understood, especially before the fifties. Objective To assess associations between weight gain from early to mid‐adulthood and midlife performance‐based physical function. Methods 499 women from the Menarche‐to‐PreMenopause Study completed handgrip strength, chair rise, and standing balance tests at age 41–48. The lowest tertile was defined as the ‘worse performance’ group. Weight and height were self‐reported across eight surveys, from ages 18–23 to 40–45, and used to determine body mass index (BMI) trajectories using group‐based trajectory modelling, as well as to estimate annual weight gain percentages. Other obesity indicators included BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) measured cross‐sectionally at age 41–48. Results Two BMI trajectories were identified: Normal‐Increasing (75%) and High‐Increasing (25%). The High‐Increasing BMI trajectory showed approximately 40% higher prevalence of worse chair‐rise and standing‐balance performances compared to the Normal‐Increasing group (95% CI: 9%–84%, p = 0.01; and 10%–84%, p = 0.008). Higher annual weight gain percentage showed a prevalence ratio (PR) 1.21 times higher for worse standing balance performance (95% CI: 1.06–1.38, p = 0.004). Midlife obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ), high‐risk WC (≥ 80 cm) and WHR (≥ 0.8) were also associated with a higher prevalence of worse performance on the chair rise and standing balance tests, with PRs from 1.41 to 1.55. No consistent evidence was found for handgrip strength. Conclusions Weight gain from early to mid‐adulthood was associated with worse performance on the chair rise and standing balance tests in midlife, highlighting the potential of early weight‐control strategies to preserve midlife performance.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and RehabilitationHealth Professions