Sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits associated with weight change in the elderly in Spain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine sociodemographic factors and lifestyle customs associated with weight change in the older adult population of Spain. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Prospective cohort study conducted from 2001 to 2003 among a cohort of 2,384 people representative of the non-institutionalized Spanish population aged 60 years and over. Data were collected through home interviews, and main statistical analysis was performed through polytomous logistic regression. RESULTS: Over the 2-year follow-up, 27.9% of men and 27.3% of women lost >= 3 kg, and 18.2% of men and 16.9% of women gained >= 3 kg. Among men, a loss of >= 3 kg was more likely among former smokers (odds ratio [OR] 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.23) and among those with higher body mass index (BMI) (p for linear trend < 0.0001). A weight gain of ! 3 kg was also more frequent in former smokers (OR = 1.93; 95% IC, 1.28-2.90). In addition, the risk of gaining >= 3 kg decreased progressively with the increase in the frequency of physical activity at leisure time (p for linear trend < 0.0001). Among women, results were similar to those in men, though in former smokers there was no association with weight changes. CONCLUSIONS: In the older adult population, BMI, physical activity at leisure time, and a former smoker status are associated with weight change in the short term. Intervention on physical activity should be a priority, because it is the main modifiable factor, is associated with health-related quality of life, and it could contribute to avoid excess weight.