Change in women's body mass index and waist circumference, 1997 to 2002: the Nepean Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate characteristics associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference stability over a five-year period in women with school-age children.


METHODS
Women with 7-8 year-old children from western Sydney, Australia, had anthropometric measures taken in 1996/97 (n=436) and five years later (n=327). Socio-demographic characteristics examined at baseline included age, socioeconomic status, smoking, and number of children.


RESULTS
Over five years, less than half of the women maintained a stable BMI (38.8%) or waist circumference (31.5%), with the majority gaining in both indicators of adiposity. BMI and socio-demographic characteristics were not predictive of BMI or waist circumference stability or decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
Total and abdominal adiposity increased in these Australian women who have children. The results support the need to develop effective weight gain prevention initiatives.
Shrewsbury
Vanessa A
VA
Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales.
Garnett
Sarah P
SP
Cowell
Christopher T
CT
Crawford
David
D
Baur
Louise A
LA
D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D015430:Weight Gain; D016387:Women's Health