Obesity--a growing issue.
OBJECTIVE
This article, based on longitudinal data, follows a sample of people who were aged 20 to 56 in 1994/95 to determine the percentage who made the transition from normal to overweight, or from overweight to obese by 2002/03. Characteristics that increased the chances of overweight people becoming obese are examined.


METHODS
The data are from five cycles of the National Population Health Survey, 1994/95 through 2002/03.


METHODS
Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to identify variables associated with an increased or decreased risk of becoming obese; 1,937 men and 1,184 women who were overweight in 1994/95 were selected.


RESULTS
Close to a third (32%) of people who were aged 20 to 56 and of normal weight in 1994/95 had become overweight by 2002/03. During the same period, almost a quarter of those who had been overweight in 1994/95 had become obese. Among people who were overweight, the risk of obesity was relatively high for younger men and members of low-income households. Overweight men who smoked or who had activity restrictions had a high risk of obesity. Physical activity helped women avoid obesity.
Le Petit
Christel
C
Health Analysis and Measurement Group at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6. Christel.LePetit@statcan.ca
Berthelot
Jean-Marie
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain