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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Obesity | Research

Trends in weight change patterns across life course among US adults, 1988–2018: population-based study

Authors: Xingxing Sun, Tingting Du

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

To examine trends in weight change patterns from young adulthood through midlife to late adulthood and their sex and racial/ethnic disparities among US adults from 1988 to 2018.

Methods

A total of 48,969 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988–1994 and 2001–2018 were included.

Results

The age-adjusted prevalence of stable non-obesity between young adulthood and midlife declined significantly from 84.1% (95 CI, 82.9-85.3%) in 1988–1994 to 68.7% (67.1-70.2%) in 2013–2018, and between midlife and late adulthood from 71.2% (69.2-73.1%) to 52.4% (50.5-54.2%). The magnitude of increase in the prevalence of weight gain from young adulthood to midlife (from 10.8% [9.9-11.6%] in 1988–1994 to 21.2% [20-22.3%] in 2013–2018; P < 0.001 for trend) was greater than that from midlife to late adulthood (from 14.1% [12.9-15.3%] to 17.2% [16.2-18.1%]; P = 0.002 for trend). The magnitude of increase in the prevalence of stable obesity from young adulthood to midlife (from 3.9% [3.1-4.8%] in 1988–1994 to 9.2% [8.2-10.3%] in 2013–2018; P < 0.001 for trend) was smaller than that from midlife to late adulthood (from 11.2% [10.1-12.2%] to 24.8% [23.3-26.3%]; P < 0.001 for trend). The declining trends in the prevalence of stable non-obesity and increasing trends in the prevalence of weight gain and stable obesity from young adulthood through midlife to late adulthood were also observed for all sex and race/ethnicity subgroups. The magnitude of decrease in the prevalence of stable non-obesity, and the magnitude of increase in the prevalence of weight gain from young adulthood through midlife to late adulthood were greater in men than in women (all P for interaction < 0.01). Weight gain patterns for those aged ≥ 65 years were substantially different from the younger age groups.

Conclusions

More young people born in later years are encountering obesity and accumulate greater obesity exposure across their lives than young people born in earlier years.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Trends in weight change patterns across life course among US adults, 1988–2018: population-based study
Authors
Xingxing Sun
Tingting Du
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Obesity
Obesity
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17137-x

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