Key result
Higher weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) was significantly associated with an increased risk of basic activities of daily living impairment (OR 1.10) and instrumental activities of daily living impairment (OR 1.16).
Why the study?
The study sought to explore the associations of central obesity indicators including WC, WHtR, and WWI with BADL and IADL impairment among middle-aged and elderly individuals in China.
Do central obesity indicators (WC, WHtR, WWI) predict the impairment of basic and instrumental activities of daily living in middle-aged and elderly adults?
Cohort (n=9,646)
Yes
Do central obesity indicators (WC, WHtR, WWI) predict the impairment of basic and instrumental activities of daily living in middle-aged and elderly adults?
Odds Ratio: 1.1 (95% CI 1.02–1.19)
p-value: p=0.01
The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) is a superior predictor of early daily living activity impairment compared to traditional central obesity metrics in middle-aged and older adults.
Central obesity indicators may flag functional decline risk in older Chinese adults; leaves open causal links and broader applicability.
To explore the associations of central obesity indicators including waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) with the impairment of basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among middle-aged and elderly population in China. This prospective study used baseline data from 2011 and follow-up data, involving 6440 and 9646 participants, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationships. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve was also used to analyze the correlation trends. Stratified analyses were performed to identify potential differences. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive value of each indicator. WC (OR = 1.01, 95% CI:1.01-1.02), WHtR (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.09-1.33), and WWI (OR = 1.10, 95% CI:1.02-1.19) were significantly associated with BADL impairment. Only WWI (OR = 1.16, 95%CI:1.09-1.23) was associated with IADL impairment. WC, WHtR and WWI were linearly associated with BADL impairment while WWI was linearly associated with IADL impairment. The risk association between WWI and BADL was stronger in drinking individuals and males. In the participants with a BMI less than 24 kg/m² and who had received a high school education or above, the increase in WWI was accompanied by a more significant risk of IADL impairment. The predictive ability of WWI is higher than that of WC and WHtR, with AUC values of 0.597 and 0.615. WWI, as a comprehensive indicator of central obesity, may be useful in comprehensively identifying the risk of early daily living activity impairment among middle-aged and elderly population.
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Du et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Activities of daily living (ADL) impairment (n=9,646). Weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) vs. Lower levels of weight-adjusted waist index was evaluated on Basic activities of daily living (BADL) impairment (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19, p=0.01). Higher weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) was significantly associated with an increased risk of basic activities of daily living impairment (OR 1.10) and instrumental activities of daily living impairment (OR 1.16).
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