American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 142, No. 10: 1039-1046
Copyright © 1995 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
other |
Unintentional Weight Loss in the United States
1Social and Scientific Systems, Inc. 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814
2National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Lower weight is usually considered advantageous to health, yet weight loss has been associated with increased mortality. An explanation for this paradox might be that the benefits of weight loss may depend on whether the loss is intentional or unintentional. The authors investigated whether intentional and unintentional weight loss differed in their associations with known risk factors for morbidity and mortality in a nationally representative sample of the US population. The sample consisted of 9,144 persons, aged 45 years and older, who answered questions regarding 1-year weight change in the diabetes risk factor Current Health Topic of the 1989 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Statistical analyses incorporated the sample weights and characteristics of the survey design. Relative to a common referent group, the factors associated with weight loss differed depending on whether the loss was defined as intentional loss, as unintentional loss, or regardless of intention. Restricting analysis to the 1,999 persons who lost weight, unintentional relative to intentional weight loss was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with older age, poorer health status, smoking, lower body mass index, and, in men only, widowhood and less education. Thus, unintentional weight loss may serve as a marker for factors that characterize persons at greater risk of mortality than persons undergoing intentional weight loss. Also, Intention to lose weight may help clarify the relation between weight loss and mortality that, to this point, has shown counterintuitive results. Studies of the relation between weight loss and mortality should incorporate intention as a factor in the analysis. Am J Epidemiol 1995;142:1039–46.
age factors; body mass index; educational status; health status; health surveys; risk factors; smoking; weight loss
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. E. Field, S. Malspeis, and W. C. Willett Weight Cycling and Mortality Among Middle-aged or Older Women Arch Intern Med, May 11, 2009; 169(9): 881 - 886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. S. Lee, M. Visser, F. A. Tylavsky, S. B. Kritchevsky, A. V. Schwartz, N. Sahyoun, T. B. Harris, A. B. Newman, and for the Health ABC study Weight Loss and Regain and Effects on Body Composition: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, April 14, 2009; (2009) glp042v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Nakamura, T. Okamura, H. Kanda, T. Hayakawa, A. Okayama, H. Ueshima, and The Health Promotion Research Committee of the Shi Medical costs of obese Japanese: a 10-year follow-up study of National Health Insurance in Shiga, Japan Eur J Public Health, October 1, 2007; 17(5): 424 - 429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. B. Rudra, T. K. Sorensen, W. M. Leisenring, E. Dashow, and M. A. Williams Weight Characteristics and Height in Relation to Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Am. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2007; 165(3): 302 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. S. Lee, S. B Kritchevsky, T. B Harris, F. Tylavsky, S. M Rubin, and A. B Newman Short-term weight changes in community-dwelling older adults: the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Weight Change Substudy Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2005; 82(3): 644 - 650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. S. Lee, S. B. Kritchevsky, F. Tylavsky, T. Harris, E. M. Simonsick, S. M. Rubin, A. B. Newman, and for the Health ABC Study Weight Change, Weight Change Intention, and the Incidence of Mobility Limitation in Well-Functioning Community-Dwelling Older Adults J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2005; 60(8): 1007 - 1012. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. P. Truesdale, J. Stevens, and J. Cai The Effect of Weight History on Glucose and Lipids: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Am. J. Epidemiol., June 15, 2005; 161(12): 1133 - 1143. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. M.H. Alibhai, C. Greenwood, and H. Payette An approach to the management of unintentional weight loss in elderly people Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 15, 2005; 172(6): 773 - 780. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Eilat-Adar, M. Eldar, and U. Goldbourt Association of Intentional Changes in Body Weight with Coronary Heart Disease Event Rates in Overweight Subjects Who Have an Additional Coronary Risk Factor Am. J. Epidemiol., February 15, 2005; 161(4): 352 - 358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S G. Wannamethee, A G. Shaper, and M. Walker Overweight and obesity and weight change in middle aged men: impact on cardiovascular disease and diabetes J Epidemiol Community Health, February 1, 2005; 59(2): 134 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Lee, S. B Kritchevsky, F. A Tylavsky, T. Harris, J. Everhart, E. M Simonsick, S. M Rubin, and A. B Newman Weight-loss intention in the well-functioning, community-dwelling elderly: associations with diet quality, physical activity, and weight change Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2004; 80(2): 466 - 474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. J. Thorpe Jr. and K. F. Ferraro Aging, Obesity, and Mortality: Misplaced Concern about Obese Older People? Research on Aging, January 1, 2004; 26(1): 108 - 129. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. W. Gregg, R. B. Gerzoff, T. J. Thompson, and D. F. Williamson Intentional Weight Loss and Death in Overweight and Obese U.S. Adults 35 Years of Age and Older Ann Intern Med, March 4, 2003; 138(5): 383 - 389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. F. Ferraro, Y.-p. Su, R. J. Gretebeck, D. R. Black, and S. F. Badylak Body Mass Index and Disability in Adulthood: A 20-Year Panel Study Am J Public Health, May 1, 2002; 92(5): 834 - 840. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Shatenstein, M.-J. Kergoat, and S. Nadon Anthropometric Changes Over 5 Years in Elderly Canadians by Age, Gender, and Cognitive Status J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2001; 56(8): M483 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Wannamethee, A. Shaper, and M Walker Weight change, body weight and mortality: the impact of smoking and ill health Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2001; 30(4): 777 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H.-W. Lin, C.-M. Li, Y.-C. Lee, L.-T. Lee, and K.-K. Leung Differences in diagnostic approach between family physicians and other specialists in patients with unintentional body weight loss Fam. Pract., December 1, 1999; 16(6): 586 - 590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. A. Quandt, M. Z. Vitolins, K. M. DeWalt, and G. M. Roos Meal Patterns of Older Adults in Rural Communities: Life Course Analysis and Implications for Undernutrition Journal of Applied Gerontology, June 1, 1997; 16(2): 152 - 171. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Fredman and M. P. Daly Weight Change: An Indicator of Caregiver Stress J Aging Health, February 1, 1997; 9(1): 43 - 69. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|