title: The impact of incarceration on obesity: are prisoners with chronic diseases becoming overweight and obese during their confinement?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between incarceration and weight gain, along with the public health impact of former prisoners who are overweight or obese, warrants more investigation to understand the impact of prison life. Studies regarding incarceration's impact on obesity are too few to support assertions that prisons contribute to obesity and comorbid conditions. This study examined a statewide prison population over several years to determine weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Objective data for weight, height, and chronic diseases, along with demographics, were extracted from an electronic health record. These data were analyzed statistically to determine changes over time and between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a total population, prisoners not only gained weight, but also reflected the distribution of BMIs for the state. There were differences within the population. Male prisoners gained significantly less weight than females. The population with chronic diseases gained less weight than the population without comorbid conditions. Prisoners with diabetes lost weight while hypertension's impact was negligible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that weight gain was a problem specifically to females. However, this prison system appears to be providing effective chronic disease management, particularly for prisoners with diabetes and hypertension. Additional research is needed to understand the impact incarceration has on the female population.
authors: Institute of Public and Preventive Health, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, CJ-2300, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors: Madison L
authors: ML
authors: Gates
authors: Georgia Correctional HealthCare, Georgia Regents University, 1499 Walton Way, HS 3507, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors: Robert K
authors: RK
authors: Bradford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015430:Weight Gain