[Sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits associated with weight change in the elderly in Spain].
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to examine sociodemographic factors and lifestyle customs associated with weight change in the older adult population of Spain.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study conducted from 2001 to 2003 among a cohort of 2,384 people representative of the non-institutionalized Spanish population aged 60 years and over. Data were collected through home interviews, and main statistical analysis was performed through polytomous logistic regression.


RESULTS
Over the 2-year follow-up, 27.9% of men and 27.3% of women lost > or = 3 kg, and 18.2% of men and 16.9% of women gained > or = 3 kg. Among men, a loss of > or = 3 kg was more likely among former smokers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.23) and among those with higher body mass index (BMI) (p for linear trend < 0.0001). A weight gain of > or = 3 kg was also more frequent in former smokers (OR = 1.93; 95% IC, 1.28-2.90). In addition, the risk of gaining > or = 3 kg decreased progressively with the increase in the frequency of physical activity at leisure time (p for linear trend < 0.0001). Among women, results were similar to those in men, though in former smokers there was no association with weight changes.


CONCLUSIONS
In the older adult population, BMI, physical activity at leisure time, and a former smoker status are associated with weight change in the short term. Intervention on physical activity should be a priority, because it is the main modifiable factor, is associated with health-related quality of life, and it could contribute to avoid excess weight.
León-Muñoz
Luz M
LM
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Guallar-Castillón
Pilar
P
López-García
Esther
E
Banegas
José R
JR
Gutiérrez-Fisac
Juan L
JL
Rodríguez-Artalejo
Fernando
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss