The 10-Year Incidence of Overweight and Major Weight Gain in US Adults

TLDR

The study estimated the 10‑year incidence of major weight gain (BMI increase ≥ 5 kg/m²) and overweight (BMI ≥ 27.8 men, ≥ 27.3 women) among US adults. Using data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow‑up Study, participants aged 25–74 were reweighed a decade after baseline. Over ten years, major weight gain occurred twice as often in women, peaking at ages 25–34 (men 3.9 %, women 8.4 %), with overweight women 25–44 years showing the highest incidence (14.2 %); non‑overweight adults had similar overweight incidence across sexes, peaking at ages 35–44 (men 16.3 %, women 13.5 %), underscoring the need for obesity prevention beginning in the early 20s, especially for young overweight women. Arch.

Abstract

• We estimated the 10-year incidence of major weight gain (a gain in body mass index of ≥5 kg/m²and overweight (a body mass index of ≥27.8 for men and ≥27.3 for women) in US adults using data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Persons aged 25 to 74 years at baseline were reweighed a decade after their initial examination (men, 3727; women, 6135). The incidence of major weight gain was twice as high in women and was highest in persons aged 25 to 34 years (men, 3.9%; women, 8.4%). Initially overweight women aged 25 to 44 years had the highest incidence of major weight gain of any subgroup (14.2%). For persons not overweight at baseline (men, 2760; women, 4295), the incidence of becoming overweight was similar in both sexes and was highest in those aged 35 to 44 years (men, 16.3%; women, 13.5%). We conclude that obesity pervention should begin among adults in their early 20s and that special emphasis is needed for young women who are already overweight. (<i>Arch Intern Med</i>. 1990;150:665-672)