Social stratification of body weight trajectory in middle-age and older americans: results from a 14-year longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To depict the trajectory of BMI from middle to late adulthood and to examine social variations in BMI trajectories.


METHODS
Eight waves (1992-2006) of the Health and Retirement Study involving a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 51 to 61 years at baseline were used. Changes in BMI were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling with time-constant and time-varying covariates.


RESULTS
BMI increased linearly over time. Compared with Caucasians, African-Americans had higher BMI levels, while Hispanics had similar BMI levels, but lower rates of increase over time. Higher education predicted lower BMI levels and was not associated with the rate of change. Younger age-at-baseline predicted lower BMI level and lower rate of increase. No gender differences were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Observed racial/ethnic and educational differences in BMI trajectory from middle to old age inform policies and interventions aimed at modifying health risks and reducing health disparities in old age.
Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. andabm@umich.edu
Anda
A
Botoseneanu
Jersey
J
Liang
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology