Longitudinal associations between body mass index (BMI) changes and musculoskeletal pain in older European males and females
Authors' conclusion
Elevated BMI at any time point was associated with increased odds of musculoskeletal pain, even among individuals who lost weight.
Study context
- Population
- Older European adults in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, waves 5–9 (2013–2022), with at least two BMI measurements; mean age 70 years, 56% female
- Participants
- 73,469 adults
- Exposure
- BMI trajectories vs stable low BMI
- Outcome
- Incident back, hip, knee and other joint pain (self-reported musculoskeletal pain)
Methodological detailssex-stratified BMI quartiles, 16 BMI trajectories, mixed-effects logistic regression, adjusted for age, region, education, income, household partnership, comorbidities and smoking
- Sex-stratified BMI quartiles
- 16 BMI trajectories
- Mixed-effects logistic regression
- Adjusted for age, region, education, income, household partnership, comorbidities and smoking
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Musculoskeletal pain
- Vs stable low BMI, upward and downward BMI trajectories and stable high BMI were associated with increased odds of musculoskeletal pain, strongest for stable high BMI
- Stable high or changing BMI showed consistent associations with incident back, hip and knee pain; associations with other joint pain were weaker and less consistent
- Associations were stronger for females than males; sex differences most pronounced for hip and knee pain
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Incident knee pain in femalesStable high BMIvs Stable low BMI | 4.17 (3.33–5.23) | |
| 0.20.5125Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Longitudinal associations between BMI changes and musculoskeletal pain in older European males and females. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 8 April 2026. doi:10.
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