title: Characterizing dietary intake and physical activity affecting weight gain in kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Weight gain after kidney transplantation affects 50% to 90% of kidney transplant recipients. Factors leading to weight gain in recipients are thought to include a change in lifestyle (eg, dietary intake and physical activity), age, race, sex, and immunosuppressant medications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine dietary intake and physical activity of kidney transplant recipients at baseline and 3 and 6 months after transplantation to identify contributing factors to weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, correlational study using secondary data from a larger parent study examining genetic and environmental contributors to weight gain after kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four kidney transplant recipients at a mid-South university hospital-based transplant institute who had dietary intake, physical activity, and clinical data at baseline and 3 and 6 months were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary intake, physical activity, weight, and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean weight gain increased by 6% from baseline to 6 months. Interestingly, dietary intake did not change significantly from baseline to 6 months. Hours of sleep per day decreased during the same period (P = .02). Dietary intake, physical activity, age, race, sex, and immunosuppression showed no significant relationship to weight gain at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Little consideration has been given to dietary intake and physical activity of kidney transplant recipients and the effects of these variables on weight gain. Further studies with a larger sample are needed, as weight gain after transplantation is a significant risk factor for diminished long-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Union University, Germantown, Tennessee, USA. ccupples@uu.edu
authors.forename: Connie K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cupples
authors.forename: Ann K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cashion
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Ruth S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tutor
authors.forename: Mona N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Wicks
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Eason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult