title: Weight gain following spinal cord injury: a pilot study.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define the temporal course of weight gain in persons with new spinal cord injury (SCI), and to identify predictors of weight gain in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) SCI Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review in a VA SCI Unit was conducted. Participants (n = 85) included all persons with new SCI completing initial rehabilitation at the center between 1998 and 2006. Outcome measures were mean change in body mass index (BMI) between rehabilitation admission and final follow-up, time of greatest BMI change, and distribution of participants by BMI classification. These measures were also examined relative to SCI level, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade, primary mode of mobility, and age at rehabilitation admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BMI increased by 2.3 kg/m2 between rehabilitation admission (mean 45 days post-injury) and final follow-up (mean 5 years post-injury). The distribution of participants shifted from lower BMI classifications at rehabilitation admission to higher BMI classifications at final follow-up. For participants transitioning from normal to overweight or obese, the greatest increase occurred during the first year after acute rehabilitation. Neurological level, impairment category, primary mode of mobility, and age at rehabilitation admission did not significantly predict BMI change. BMI at rehabilitation admission correlated significantly with BMI at final follow-up (P < 0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings confirm a significant increase in BMI after new SCI and suggest that persons with new SCI are at greatest weight gain risk during the first year following acute rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA. dacrane@uw.edu
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult