Prevalence and Factors Associated with Obesity among Community-Dwelling Persons 80 Years and Older: Longitudinal National Evidence from the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand Study, 2015-2022

Supa  Pengpid; Karl  Peltzer; André Hajek  Hajek; Razak M.  Gyasi

doi:10.18502/ehj.v12i1.21902

Supa Pengpid Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Karl Peltzer Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan
André Hajek Hajek Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Hamburg, Germany
Razak M. Gyasi African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ehj.v12i1.21902

Keywords: Aged, Obesity, Longitudinal Study, Thailand

Abstract

Introduction: Few studies have longitudinally assessed the prevalence and factors associated with obesity among persons 80 years and older. This study aimed to estimate these based on 4-wave national longitudinal data from Thailand.

Methods: Data from the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand study from 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022 were utilized. The sample was restricted to community-dwelling persons 80 years and older with complete self-reported body weight and height values (analytic sample: n=2986 observations). For the pooled sample, the average age was 85.3 years (range 80-107 years). Thai obesity was defined using Thai criteria (body mass index-BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Random effects (RE) logistic regressions were utilized to estimate the factors associated with Thai and WHO obesity.

Results: The average BMI was 21.6 (SD = 4.4), 23.0% were underweight, 17.4% had Thai obesity, and 3.6% had WHO obesity. RE regssions showed that age and male sex were negatively associated with Thai and WHO obesity. Being married or cohabiting and higher subjective economic status were associated with WHO obesity. Having no exercise was associated with WHO obesity. Living alone was negatively associated with Thai obesity, and having a greater number of chronic conditions was associated with both Thai and WHO obesity.

Conclusion: This longitudinal study enhances our understanding of the factors associated with obesity among people 80 years of age and older. Strategies to delay or decrease chronic conditions and increase physical activity may help reduce obesity.