title: Lifestyle behaviours associated with 5-year weight gain in a prospective cohort of Australian adults aged 26-36 years at baseline.
abstract: Whether not meeting common guidelines for lifestyle behaviours is associated with weight gain is uncertain. This study examined whether 5-year weight gain was predicted by not meeting guidelines for: breakfast consumption (eating between 6 and 9 am), takeaway food consumption (<2 times/week), television viewing (<2 h/day) and daily steps (≥10,000 steps/day).
  
  
  
  One thousand one hundred and fifty-five Australian participants (43% men, 26-36 years) completed questionnaires and wore a pedometer at baseline (2004-06) and follow-up (2009-11). Weight was measured or self-reported, with a correction factor applied. For each behaviour, participants were classified according to whether they met the guideline: consistently met at baseline and follow-up (reference group); not met at baseline but met at follow-up; met at baseline but not met at follow-up; consistently not met at baseline and follow-up. For each behaviour, weight gain was calculated using linear regression. Weight gain by number of guidelines met was also examined.
  
  
  
  Mean 5-year weight gain was 2.0 kg (SD:6.3). Compared to the reference group, additional weight (mean, 95% CI) was gained among those who did not meet the guideline at follow-up, or consistently did not meet the guideline, for breakfast (1.8 kg, 0.7-2.9; 1.5 kg, 0.1-2.8); takeaway food (2.2 kg, 0.7-3.6; 1.9 kg, 0.7-3.1); watching television (1.9 kg, 0.9-2.9; 1.4 kg, 0.4-2.3); and daily steps (2.6 kg, 1.1-4.04; 1.6 kg, 0.5-2.7). Those who met ≤1 guideline at follow-up gained 3.8 kg (95% CI 2.3-5.3) more than those meeting all guidelines.
  
  
  
  Individuals who adopted healthier behaviours between baseline and follow-up had similar weight gain to those who met the guidelines at both time points. Encouraging young adults to meet these simple guidelines may reduce weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia. K.J.Smith@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kylie J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Seana L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Verity J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otahal
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia.|The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Venn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001835:Body Weight; D062408:Breakfast; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: Fast food; Guidelines; Physical activity; Sedentary behaviour; Skipping breakfast; Steps; Takeaway food; Television; Weight gain; Young adults