Relation of weight gain and weight loss on subsequent diabetes risk in overweight adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether long term weight gain and weight loss are associated with subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes in overweight, non-diabetic adults.


METHODS
Prospective cohort. Baseline overweight was defined as BMI>/=27.3 for women and BMI>/=27. 8 for men. Annual weight change (kg/year) over 10 years was calculated using measured weight at subjects' baseline and first follow up examinations. In the 10 years after measurement of weight change, incident cases of diabetes were ascertained by self report, hospital discharge records, and death certificates.


METHODS
Community.


METHODS
1929 overweight, non-diabetic adults.


RESULTS
Incident diabetes was ascertained in 251 subjects. Age adjusted cumulative incidence increased from 9.6% for BMI<29 to 26. 2% for BMI>/=37. Annual weight change over 10 years was higher in subjects who become diabetic compared with those who did not for all BMI<35. Relative to overweight people with stable weight, each kg of weight gained annually over 10 years was associated with a 49% increase in risk of developing diabetes in the subsequent 10 years. Each kg of weight lost annually over 10 years was associated with a 33% lower risk of diabetes in the subsequent 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight gain was associated with substantially increased risk of diabetes among overweight adults, and even modest weight loss was associated with significantly reduced diabetes risk. Minor weight reductions may have major beneficial effects on subsequent diabetes risk in overweight adults at high risk of developing diabetes.
Resnick
H E
HE
MedStar Research Institute, 108 Irving Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA. her1@mhg.edu
Valsania
P
P
Halter
J B
JB
Lin
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment