PREDICTORS OF MAJOR WEIGHT-GAIN IN ADULT FINNS - STRESS, LIFE SATISFACTION AND PERSONALITY-TRAITS

OBJECTIVE: To study how stress, life satisfaction and personality rela ted factors, are related to long-term major weight gain. DESIGN: Prosp ective cohort study, with follow-up by questionnaire at 6y and 15y wit h a within-study replication. SUBJECTS: 5867 twin pairs aged 18-54y at baseline, considered as two sets of unrelated individuals in analyses . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for 10 kg weight ga in over 6y and 15y. RESULTS: A high level of stress at baseline, was a predictor for major weight gain over 6y, and this effect was consiste nt in some groups even over 15y. Low levels of life satisfaction and h igh scores for neuroticism, were predictors for weight gain in older w omen. These effects were consistent, even after adjustments for confou nding variables (education, dieting, smoking, alcohol consumption and pregnancy in women). High levels of extroversion showed a trend toward s lesser weight gain in younger men. CONCLUSION: Psychological traits did not affect the risk of major long-term weight gain in a uniform fa shion. The observed effects of the factors related to psychological he alth were modest and consistent, but varied by age and gender. Thus, t here may be trait-specific effects in selected subgroups of the popula tion that should be further investigated.