BMI and transitions to disability among older adults in Mexico and the United States

As national populations across the world age at an unprecedented rate, disability rates are also increasing (World Health Organization, and The World Bank. (2011). World report on disability, from http://?whqlibdoc.?who.?int/?publications/?2011/?9789240685215_?eng.?pdf). Prevalence of disability varies greatly by country, however, ranging from 43.4% among persons 60 and older in lower income countries to 29.5% in higher income countries (World Health Organization, & The World Bank. (2011). World report on disability, from http://?whqlibdoc.?who.?int/?publications/?2011/?9789240685215_?eng.?pdf). High rates of disability can impact individuals’ quality of life and contribute to the health burden of society. This is particularly the case in developing countries, where access to rehabilitation services and treatment programs may be limited (Al Snih, S., Graham, J. E., Kuo, Y., Goodwin, J. S., Markides, K. S., & Ottenbacher, K. J. (2010). Obesity and disability: Relation among older adults living in Latin America and the Caribbean. American Journal of Epidemiology 171(12):1282-1288).