Association between anxiety levels and weight change in the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between anxiety and weight change in a multiethnic cohort followed for approximately 10 years.


METHODS
The study population consisted of participants of the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis who met specified inclusion criteria (n = 5,799). Weight was measured at baseline and four subsequent follow-up exams. Anxiety was analyzed as sex-specific anxiety quartiles (QANX). The relationship between anxiety level and weight change was examined using a mixed-effect model with weight as the dependent variable, anxiety and time as the independent variables, and adjusted for covariates.


RESULTS
Average annual weight change (range) was -0.17 kg (-6.04 to 4.38 kg) for QANX 1 (lowest anxiety), -0.16 kg (-10.71 to 4.45 kg) for QANX 2, -0.15 kg (-8.69 to 6.39 kg) for QANX 3, and -0.20 kg (-7.12 to 3.95 kg) for QANX 4 (highest anxiety). No significant association was noted between QANX and weight change. However, the highest QANX was associated with a -2.48 kg (95% CI = -3.65, -1.31) lower baseline weight compared to the lowest QANX after adjustment for all covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
Among adults, age 45-84, higher levels of anxiety, defined by the STPI trait anxiety scale, are associated with lower average baseline weight but not with weight change.
Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA ; Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984395 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4395, USA.
Katherine
0000-0002-7479-809X
K
Rieke
Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Ramon
R
Durazo-Arvizu
Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611-4402, USA.
Kiang
0000-0001-7357-1507
K
Liu
Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Erin D
ED
Michos
Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Amy
0000-0001-5717-5360
A
Luke
Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA ; Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Holly
0000-0002-6374-837X
H
Kramer
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001213:Asian; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People