A recent study has revealed that even if older adults end up with a similar final weight, frequent and significant weight fluctuations over time can increase their risk of mortality.

A research team led by Professors Seo Ji-yeon and Choi Ji-min of the Department of Gastroenterology at Seoul National University Hospital Gangnam Center, alongside Professor Han Kyung-do of Soongsil University, announced on the 23rd that they analyzed approximately 620,000 individuals aged 75 and older and found that greater weight variability correlates with a higher risk of death.

Notably, even among individuals whose initial and final weights were similar, those who experienced substantial weight swings in between faced a heightened risk of mortality.

During old age, body weight can fluctuate due to underlying diseases or frailty. While previous attention has largely focused on the net amount of weight gained or lost, the magnitude of weight fluctuation across multiple measurements can also serve as a crucial indicator of overall health status.

Using health screening data from the National Health Insurance Service, the research team analyzed 616,696 individuals aged 75 or older who underwent health checkups between 2012 and 2015 and had four or more recorded weight measurements.

The average age of the participants was 78, and their survival status and causes of death were tracked through the end of 2022. The median follow-up period was 7.5 years, during which 195,585 participants passed away.

When participants were divided into four groups based on the degree of weight fluctuation (from smallest to largest), the three groups with greater variability showed a 12%, 26%, and 62% higher risk of mortality, respectively, compared to the group with the least fluctuation.

Even among individuals whose initial and final weight difference was within 5%, those who experienced large interim weight swings had a 41% higher risk of death compared to those who maintained a relatively stable weight.

The same trend appeared in both weight-loss and weight-gain groups, where those with high weight variability (top 25%) faced a 36% and 33% greater risk of mortality, respectively.

Based on these findings, the research team emphasized the need to look beyond whether weight ultimately increased or decreased, and to consider how dramatically it shifted along the way.

Professor Seo Ji-yeon noted, "It is easy to assume that if the initial and final body weights are similar, there was no significant change, but we also need to examine the changes that occurred in between. This study demonstrates that tracking weight records measured multiple times can be helpful when evaluating the health of older adults."

Meanwhile, the results of this study were published in the recent issue of the international academic journal Scientific Reports.

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