Developmental trajectories of body mass index: evidence from the National Population Health Survey (1994-2011).

Wang, Meng (2015) Developmental trajectories of body mass index: evidence from the National Population Health Survey (1994-2011). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (2MB)

Abstract

The body mass index (BMI) trajectory analysis can capture the developmental patterns of BMI over time. Knowledge on the long-term development of obesity throughout adulthood/later years and its determinants and health consequences (including death) is lacking for the Canadian population. The primary aim of this research is to examine whether there are distinct patterns of BMI change among Canadian adults and seniors through a longitudinal study. We analyzed data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS, 1994-2011) to identify the BMI trajectories separately for young to middle-aged adults (20-39 years at baseline), middle-aged to older adults (40-55 years at baseline), and seniors (65-79 years at baseline). Additionally, we examined the impact of individual characteristics on BMI trajectories and whether morbidity and mortality risks differ between the identified BMI trajectories. Our results showed that there were different patterns of BMI changes over time existing in the Canadian population. We also found a gender difference in the associated factors of BMI trajectories, while food insecurity and decreased years of smoking were associated with raising the BMI trajectories in both women and men. People who were continually severely obese in their midlife were at greater risk of developing numerous adverse health conditions compared with normal weight counterparts. Further, constantly obese men had the highest risk of all-cause mortality in the elderly population. An awareness of different BMI trajectories may allow clinicians and policy professionals to tailor programs to specific groups, who are at the highest risk of poorer health outcomes due to obesity, and to intervene at an earlier stage thus altering the path of risky trajectories.

Actions (login required)

View Item