Lean Mass Index: A Better Predictor of Mortality than Body Mass Index in Elderly Asians

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation between body mass index (BMI), body composition, and all‐cause mortality in an elderly Asian population. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study with 3.5‐year follow‐up. SETTING: The Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging Project for elderly residents in Seongnam City, Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred seventy‐seven subjects aged 65 and older for whom baseline body composition data was available. MEASUREMENTS: BMI, waist circumference, and body composition of each subject was evaluated. Body composition was examined using bioelectrical impedance analyses of measures, including lean mass (kg), fat mass (kg), and fat proportion (%). In addition, lean mass index (LMI, kg/m2) was calculated by dividing lean mass by the square of height. Participants were divided into three groups: Group 1 (