Interaction of physical activity on the association of obesity-related measures with multimorbidity among older adults: a population-based cross-sectional study in India

ObjectiveTo explore the associations between obesity-related measures and multimorbidity among older Indian adults and the interactive effects of physical activity in those associations.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted using large representative survey data.Setting and participantsThe present study used data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) conducted during 2017-2018. Participants included 15098 male and 16366 female older adults aged 60 years and above in India.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe outcome variable was multimorbidity among older adults coded as no and yes. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate analysis are presented in the paper. Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis was used to fulfil the study objectives.ResultsAbout 24% of older adults in the LASI cohort suffered from multimorbidity. Older adults who were overweight/obese (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.61, CI 1.48 to 1.74), had high-risk waist circumference (AOR: 1.66, CI 1.52 to 1.80) and had high-risk waist to hip ratio (AOR: 1.45, CI 1.33 to 1.59) were significantly more likely to suffer from multimorbidity compared with their counterparts. Older adults who were obese and physically inactive had significantly increased odds of suffering from multimorbidity compared with older adults who were obese and physically active. Similarly, older adults with high-risk waist circumference (AOR: 1.30, CI 1.11 to 1.53) and high-risk waist to hip ratio (AOR: 1.32, CI 1.20 to 1.46) along with being physically inactive had significantly higher odds of suffering from multimorbidity in comparison with older adults with high-risk waist circumference and waist to hip ratio along with being physically active.ConclusionWhile developing health strategies for older adults, physical activity needs to be recognised as a way of minimising comorbidities. Further, the study highlights the importance of using multiple obesity-related measures to predict chronic conditions in the older population.