Three-year measured weight change in the African American health study.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines 3-year weight change in African Americans.


METHODS
Nine hundred and ninety-eight participants 49 to 65 years old were assessed at baseline and 3 years later. Weight was measured, and weight change was defined as clinically meaningful increases or decreases (+/- 5 kg). Potential risk factors were investigated using multinomial logistic regression.


RESULTS
In-home measured weights were available for 752 participants (75%): 504 (67%) had stable weights, 131 (17%) gained more than 5 kg, and 117 (16%) lost more than 5 kg. Among all participants, the risks for weight gains were cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower income, and Medicaid status; the risks for weight losses were angina, cancer, high measured systolic blood pressure, asthma, and physical inactivity. Sex-stratified analyses reveal differences involving age, socioeconomic status, cancer, blood pressure, and lower body function.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-year weight changes in middle-aged African Americans were frequent and significantly associated with several risk factors.
Wolinsky
Fredric D
FD
Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, E-205 General Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. fredric-wolinsky@uiowa.edu
Andresen
Elena M
EM
Malmstrom
Theodore K
TK
Schootman
Mario
M
Miller
J Philip
JP
Miller
Douglas K
DK
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris; D001249:Asthma; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss