Original Article
International Journal of Obesity (2006) 30, 1362–1367. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803306; published online 14 March 2006
The association of markers of inflammation with weight change in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study
J I Barzilay1, C Forsberg2, S R Heckbert3, M Cushman4 and A B Newman5
- 1Kaiser Permanente of Georgia and the Division of Endocrinology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- 2Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- 3Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- 4Departments of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- 5Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Correspondence: Dr J Barzilay, Division of Endocrinology, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, 200 Crescent Center Parkway, Tucker, GA 30084, USA. E-mail: joshua.barzilay@kp.org
Received 1 August 2005; Revised 24 January 2006; Accepted 10 February 2006; Published online 14 March 2006.
Abstract
Objective:
Elevated levels of inflammation factors often precede weight loss and may be causally related to it. Newer studies suggest that elevated levels of inflammation factors also precede weight gain. In this study, we examined whether inflammation factors are elevated in individuals, age 
65 years, who lost or gained >5% weight over a 3 year follow-up period compared to those with stable weight.
Subjects:
In total, 3254 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study whose weight was stable; 661 who gained >5% weight; and 842 who lost >5% weight.
Measurements:
C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, factor VIIIc, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.
Results:
As compared to participants whose weight was stable, those who lost >5% weight had higher baseline CRP concentration (1.05 (95% CI, 1.02, 1.08) per interquartile increase) and WBC count (1.10 (1.01, 1.19) per interquartile increase) on adjusted analyses. Those who gained >5% weight had higher baseline CRP (1.05 (1.01, 1.08)), fibrinogen (1.13 (1.01, 1.27)), and factor VIIIc (1.15 (1.03, 1.30)).
Conclusions:
Inflammation factors are associated with weight gain and weight loss in older individuals. These findings suggest that subclinical inflammation, or unknown factors associated with subclinical inflammation, contribute to weight change.
Keywords:
inflammation, weight gain, weight loss, elderly, CRP
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