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Weight gain and its correlates in Poland between 1983 and 1993

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 1507–1513 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Weight gain and its unfavorable consequences on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk have been observed worldwide. Determinants of weight gain were studied in a Polish cohort of 1042 men and women age 35–64 at baseline. Participants were randomly selected from an urban population in Warsaw and a rural population in Tarnobrzeg Province surveyed by investigators in Krakow. The surveys, part of the Pol-MONICA project, were conducted in 1983–1984, 1987–1988, and 1992–1993. The purpose of this report is to gain insight into the dynamics of weight gain in this population that could be helpful in identifying high-risk groups for intervention, and to determine if economic changes that took place shortly after the second survey had any impact on weight gain.

METHODS: Weight, height and demographic characteristics were measured at each visit according to Pol-MONICA standard protocol. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as kg/m2. Years of schooling, 7-day alcohol history and smoking history were self-reported.

RESULTS: Sixty percent of the cohort gained some weight, averaging 0.3–0.7 kg/y. Weight gain was highest in younger rural women, in urban men and in rural women with low education. In multiple linear regression, low education was related to a 1.29 kg greater weight gain (P<0.01), ex-smoking status was related to a 2.54 kg greater weight gain (P<0.001), and younger age was related to a 1.14 kg greater weight gain (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a need to target intervention programs at young low SES adults. Developing effective means of reaching these vulnerable groups is a critical research goal.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by the Polish Governmental Grant, Contract 11.6 and by the State Committee for Scientific Research, Contract Nos: 0253/S4/92, 0380/PO5/95, 4-1474-9101, 4PODO3608 and by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contract Nos: N01-HV-1-2243, N01-HV-1-98112, N01-HV-59224.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA,

    BH Dennis & CE Davis

  2. Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Population Studies, School of Public Health, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

    A Pajak

  3. Department of CVD Epidemiology and Prevention, Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland

    B Pardo & W Piotrowski

  4. School of Public Health, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    OD Williams

  5. Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 137 E. Franklin Street, Suite 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA

    SH Irving

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Correspondence to SH Irving.

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Dennis, B., Pajak, A., Pardo, B. et al. Weight gain and its correlates in Poland between 1983 and 1993. Int J Obes 24, 1507–1513 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801435

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