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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2008

Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research article

Socioeconomic position and risk of short-term weight gain: Prospective study of 14,619 middle-aged men and women

Authors: Lisa R Purslow, Elizabeth H Young, Nicholas J Wareham, Nita Forouhi, Eric J Brunner, Robert N Luben, Ailsa A Welch, Kay-Tee Khaw, Shelia A Bingham, Manjinder S Sandhu

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Background

The association between socioeconomic position in middle age and risk of subsequent, short-term weight gain is unknown. We therefore assessed this association in a prospective population based cohort study in Norfolk, UK.

Methods

We analysed data on 14,619 middle-aged men and women (aged between 40–75 at baseline) with repeated objective measures of weight and height at baseline (1993–1997) and follow up (1998–2000).

Results

During follow up 5,064 people gained more than 2.5 kg. Compared with the highest social class, individuals in the lowest social class had around a 30% greater risk of gaining more than 2.5 kg (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.11–1.51; p for trend = 0.002). This association remained statistically significant following adjustment for sex, age, baseline BMI, smoking, and follow up time (OR 1.25; CI 1.07–1.46; p for trend <0.001). We also found no material difference between unadjusted models and those including all confounders and potential mediators.

Conclusion

Individuals of low socioeconomic position are at greatest risk of gaining weight during middle age, which is not explained by classical correlates of socioeconomic position and risk factors for obesity.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Socioeconomic position and risk of short-term weight gain: Prospective study of 14,619 middle-aged men and women
Authors
Lisa R Purslow
Elizabeth H Young
Nicholas J Wareham
Nita Forouhi
Eric J Brunner
Robert N Luben
Ailsa A Welch
Kay-Tee Khaw
Shelia A Bingham
Manjinder S Sandhu
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-112

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