Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40152974›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2025

Is age an effect modifier of the association between body mass index and physical function in patients with obesity?

Elizabeth G Willard, Ayako Stanlie, Danny Mou, Anne Li, Neil D Ghushe, Andrea L Pusic, Manraj Kaur, Kirsten Dabekaussen, Abdelrahmen A Nimeri, Jennifer J Shin

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Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Patient-Centered Approach to Assessing Voice Impairment.JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Elizabeth G WillardDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Ayako StanlieDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Danny MouSection of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Washington University of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Anne LiDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Neil D GhusheDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Andrea L PusicDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Manraj KaurDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Kirsten DabekaussenUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abdelrahmen A NimeriDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Jennifer J ShinDepartment of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. jennifer_shin@meei.harvard.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesAmid hesitancy to pursue interventions, such as metabolic and bariatric surgery for obesity within some age groups, the impact of age on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and perceived bodily function is fundamental to understand. Our objective was thus to determine whether this relationship was affected by older age such that it might alter how we consider interventions in different age groups.

methodsPatient data (N = 1921) were obtained prospectively and assessed to determine if age decile influenced the association between BMI and BODY-Q Physical Function scores; BODY-Q PF is a validated instrument which assesses perceived physical function in patients who are being managed for weight loss. Normative BODY-Q PF scores were defined according to the previously published threshold. Stratified analyses, receiver operator characteristic curves, and logistic regression were utilized to assess for effect modification by age.

resultsAmong 1921 adults (80% female) seeking weight management interventions at an academic hospital consortium, the strongest association between normal BODY-Q PF and lower BMI was seen in patients 61-70 years of age, whether assessed through receiver operator characteristic curves, bivariable odds ratios, or multivariable logistic regression. Age was an effect modifier of the association between BODY-Q PF and BMI. When both age 61-70 years and BMI < 30 occurred concurrently, the odds of normal BODY-Q PF scores increased (OR 3.275, 95% CI 1.994-5.379). In contrast, age 61-70 years alone was associated with lower odds of a normal BODY-Q PF score (OR 0.434, 95% CI 0.298-0.603).

conclusionWhen BMI is improved in older patients, it is more closely associated with better physical function. Age is thus an effect modifier of the association between BMI and BODY-Q PF scores. Older patients may then experience at least as many physical function benefits from weight loss interventions as their younger counterparts.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexObesityAdultAgedAge FactorsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesWeight LossAgeEffect modifierMetabolic and bariatric surgeryPhysical functionWeight management

Identifiers

PMID40152974

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.