Patterns and demographic predictors of 5-year weight change in a multi-ethnic cohort of men and women in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated 5-year trends in body weight, overweight and obesity and their association with sociodemographic variables in a large, multi-ethnic community sample of Australian adults.


METHODS
This prospective population study used baseline and 5-year follow-up data from participants in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS).


METHODS
Population study in Melbourne, Australia.


METHODS
In total, 12 125 men and 17 674 women aged 35-69 years at baseline.


RESULTS
Mean 5-year weight change in this sample was +1.58 (standard deviation (SD) 4.82) kg for men and +2.42 (SD 5.17) kg for women. Younger (35-44 years) men and, in particular, women gained more weight than older adults and were at highest risk of major weight gain (> or =5 kg) and becoming overweight. Risk of major weight gain and associations between demographic variables and weight change did not vary greatly by ethnicity. Education level showed complex associations with weight outcomes that differed by sex and ethnicity. Multivariate analyses showed that, among men, higher initial body weight was associated with decreased likelihood of major weight gain, whereas among women, those initially overweight or obese were about 20% more likely to experience major weight gain than underweight or healthy weight women.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of widespread weight gain across this entire population sample, and particularly among younger women and women who were already overweight, are a cause for alarm. The prevention of weight gain and obesity across the entire population should be an urgent public health priority. Young-to-mid adulthood appears to be a critical time to intervene to prevent future weight gain.
School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. kball@deakin.edu.au
Kylie
K
Ball
David
D
Crawford
Paul
P
Ireland
Allison
A
Hodge
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain