Obesity Makes Life Worse For Older Women

Posted on May 7, 2009 in Latest News

Although women live longer than men, a new cardiovascular study shows that older women are more prone to disabilities than men. The reason for increased disability in older women can be largely attributed to obesity and arthritis, the researchers reported.

This study which was presented at American Geriatrics Society’s Annual Meeting in Chicago on Saturday, points to obesity and arthritis as the major reasons which lead to loss of independence in older women.

Researchers from Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina observed about 5,888 men and women of age 65 years and older. They found out that women were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from disabilities than men. Also, 48% of these disabilities were attributed to obesity and arthritis among women.

Why are women at high risk of obesity? According to Dr. Heather Whitson from Duke University, who presented this study , women tend to gain weight during the pregnancy and peri-menopausal years. This weight gain if carried onto old age, can cause loss of independence in older years. Prevention of weight gain among young and middle-aged women can enable them to overcome disability in their older years.

Dr. Harvey Jay Cohen, lead investigator of this study, feels that the findings of this study are disturbing as obesity rates among women have been increasing in the recent years. Helping women to make better decisions in the earlier years can be helpful.

This study shows the obesity can negatively affect health in the older years. Hence, women should overcome obesity by exercising and eating healthy.

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