The Effect of Weight History on Glucose and Lipids: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Few studies have examined the impact of weight history. Extant data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study were used to compare risk factors for normal-weight (body mass index: 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)) adults with a history of weight loss (n = 775) with those for persons with a history of weight maintenance (n = 5,164). In this 1987-1998 US study, the authors also compared risk factors for pre-obese (body mass index: 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) adults with a history of weight gain (n = 1,296) versus weight maintenance (n = 6,721). They used mixed-models regression to adjust for ethnicity, gender, age, education, field center, smoking, alcohol consumption, follow-up time, and follow-up body mass index. Compared with adults with a history of weight maintenance, adults with a 3-year history of weight loss had more favorable total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and similar glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. In contrast, pre-obese adults with a 3-year history of weight gain had equivalent glucose and lipid levels at follow-up compared with adults with a history of weight maintenance. These findings suggest that, in addition to current weight, weight history may impact glucose and lipid levels.