Parisa Mirzadehgan, Gail Harrison, PhD, and Jay S. Tanzman, MPH. Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-17, 310 794 6601, pmirzade@ucla.edu

Objective: Our objective was to explore demographic characteristics associated with adult weight gain in California adults. Methods: We examined correlates of weight gain based on data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a telephone survey among a representative sample of non-institutionalized persons living in California households. Multivariate regression was used to determine associations between weight gain and subject demographic characteristics. Results: Almost half of California women (43.6%) and more than half of men (62.7%) were overweight or obese in 2001. About half of all adults (51% of men and 47% of women) reported weight gain of more than 20lb since age 18. Average weight gain was 1.7 pounds/year for men and 1.4 pounds/year for women. Younger adults reported higher than average weight gain/year (2.6 pounds/year men; 2.1 pounds/year women aged 18-34); however, across all ages and ethnic groups, the average adult continued to gain weight. Multivariate analysis showed that, compared to Whites, Pacific Islanders gained 1.4lb more per year (Latinos 0.1; African-Americans 0.6; American Indians & Alaska Natives; 0.5), while Asians gained 0.5 pounds/year less. Higher education and higher income were protective against weight gain. Compared to respondents who lived more than 15 years in the US, respondents who lived 2-4 years gained 0.4 lb more per year. Conclusion: Young adulthood appears to be a critical time to intervene to prevent future weight gain. The findings suggest that without greater efforts to promote and support weight control the prevalence of obesity will continue to rise.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session;
• Participants will be able to evaluate the risks for the current trend of weight gain.
• Participants will understand the relationship between demographic factors and risk of weight gain.
• Participants will identify 3 public health priorities to overcome the existing trend of obesity and overweight.

Keywords: Obesity, Population

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.