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In a Journal of the American Geriatrics Society analysis of nationally representative data from 6,905 U.S. adults age 65 or older followed from 2011 to 2024, higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower mortality risk, whereas higher waist circumference, a marker of abdominal obesity, was independently associated with higher mortality risk after accounting for BMI.

Compared with normal weight, overweight males and males with class I and II obesity (BMI of 30 to less than 40 kg/m2) had 46% and 51% lower mortality risks, respectively. Additionally, high waist circumference was associated with a 24% higher mortality risk in males. Similar patterns were observed in females.

When BMI and waist circumference were evaluated together, being overweight was associated with lower mortality risk regardless of waist circumference among males. Class I and II obesity also remained associated with lower mortality risk exclusively among males with elevated waist circumference. In contrast, being underweight, regardless of waist circumference, and having normal BMI with elevated waist circumference were both associated with higher mortality risk in males and females.

"BMI and waist circumference provide complementary information about health risk in older adults," said study co-author Bryan Blissmer, Ph.D., of the University of Rhode Island. "Our findings suggest that considering both measures together, rather than relying on BMI alone, may improve mortality risk assessment and support more informed clinical decision-making."

More information: Time-varying body mass index, waist circumference and all-cause mortality in US adults aged 65 or older, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2026). DOI: 10.1111/jgs.70600