|
Predictors of Weight Change in Men
Results from The Health Professionals Follow-Up Study
Weight Loss Study Aim
Since the prevalence of adult obesity is increasing in the United States,
we examined the effect of changing common habits (exercise, TV viewing,
smoking and eating habits) on four-year change in body weight.
Weight Loss Study Method
A prospective cohort study of US male health professionals with follow-up
from 1988-1992. Participants were 19 478 men aged 40-75 in 1986, who were
free of cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Multiple
regression was used to determine the association between four year change
in body weight (from 1988-1992) and common habits, after adjusting for
baseline age, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
Weight Loss Study Results
For middle-aged men, vigorous activity was associated with weight reduction
and TV/VCR viewing and eating between meals with weight gain. Quitting
smoking and a history of voluntary weight loss prior to the study period
were consistently related to weight increase. Recently being on a diet
was more strongly associated with weight loss among older men. Over the
four-year follow-up period, middle-aged men who increased their exercise,
decreased TV viewing and stopped eating between meals, lost an average
weight of -1.4 kg, compared to a weight gain of 1.4 kg among the overall
population. The prevalence of obesity among middle-aged men was lowest
among those who maintained a relatively high level of vigorous physical
activity, compared to those who were relatively sedentary.
Weight Loss Study Conclusion
These data suggest that improvement in the mix of health habits, particularly
increasing vigorous activity, as well as decreasing TV use and changing
eating habits, results in weight maintenance or a modest weight loss over
four years.
Source: International Journal of Obesity
(1997)
|
|
|
com