Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 1208–1214; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602839; published online 11 July 2007

Changes in weight and waist circumference over 9 years in a Scottish population

Contributors: ME-M performed the original analyses, interpreted the data and wrote the first draft and revisions of the manuscript. JAS performed additional analyses, assisted with the interpretation of the results and in writing and revising the manuscript. GD advised on the analysis and commented on drafts of the manuscript. MEJL and CMB contributed to the interpretation of the results and commented on drafts of the manuscript.

M Ebrahimi-Mameghani1,2, J A Scott2,3, G Der4, M E J Lean2 and C M Burns5

  1. 1Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran
  2. 2Human Nutrition Section, Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
  3. 3Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  4. 4MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
  5. 5School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia

Correspondence: Dr JA Scott, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia. E-mail: jane.scott@flinders.edu.au

Received 17 August 2006; Revised 21 May 2007; Accepted 22 May 2007; Published online 11 July 2007.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To document patterns of measured weight and waist circumference (WC) change and the increase in overweight and obesity over a 9-year period.

Subjects/Methods:

 

A total of 1044 subjects from two age-defined cohorts aged 39 and 59 in 1991. Height, weight and WC were measured in 1991, 1995 and 2000 and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Pattern of weight and WC change was studied over approximately 9 years.

Results:

 

The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased markedly and the younger cohort showed greater increases in weight and WC than the older cohort. There was no significant difference in mean BMI and/or mean 9-year weight change between men and women in either age cohort, and mean weight gain was similar for all occupational groups. Only 20% of subjects maintained a stable weight (plusminus2 kg), while 42.2 and 17.6% gained greater than 5 and 10 kg over the 9-year period, respectively. The rate of weight gain appeared to be relatively steady over the 9 years among younger subjects but declined in the older subjects in the second half of the observation period.

Conclusions:

 

Health promotion strategies to prevent weight gain need to be population-based, targeting all social and age groups, but particularly those in their early middle-age.

Keywords:

longitudinal changes, weight, waist circumference, obesity, BMI

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