Central Obesity Is Associated With an Increased Rate of Multisite Pain in Older Adults

Abstract

ObjectiveCentral obesity has been associated with several adverse health events, but little research exists about the longitudinal effects of central obesity on multisite pain. The purpose of this study was to assess if central obesity, as measured by waist circumference measurement, was associated with an increased rate of having multisite pain among older adults aged 65 years and older.DesignThe National Health and Aging Trends Study is a longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2011 and intended to be representative of Medicare beneficiaries in the contiguous United States.MethodsThere were 7,145 community-dwelling participants included in this study. Data for this study were collected annually between 2011 and 2018. Researchers assessed if waist circumference risk level was associated with an increased rate ratio of multisite pain. Weighted data were used in a multivariable generalized estimating equation model that used a log link specified with a Poisson distribution.ResultsParticipants with high-risk waist circumferences (98 cm or greater for women and 109 cm or greater for men) had a 11% higher rate of multisite pain than those with low-risk waist circumferences [rate ratio (RR) 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07–1.15] adjusting for gender, age, race, education, probable major depression, arthritis, and multimorbidity count.ConclusionAs measured by waist circumference, central adiposity is associated with multisite pain in older adults. While more research is needed, reducing waist circumference may prove beneficial in reducing the burden of multisite pain.

Adiposity indicators exhibit depot‐ and sex‐specific associations with multimorbidity onset: A cohort study of the UK Biobank

“…11 The limitations of BMI lie in its inability to reflect regional body fat distribution and distinguish between lean and fat body mass. 12,13 An extensive body of evidence has suggested that indices of abdominal obesity 14 and body fat distribution [15][16][17] exhibit stronger associations with the risk of chronic diseases. Furthermore, adipose tissue has sex- 18 and location-specific 19,20 biological functions.…”