Seven-year stability of indicators of obesity and adipose tissue distribution in the Canadian population

Background: The prevention of obesity appears to be a better approach than treatment; thus, the prediction of future obesity from current status is im portant. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the stability of ad iposity and adipose tissue distribution (ATD) in the Canadian population. Design: The sample included 1048 males and 1063 females aged 7-69 y at base line from the Campbell's Survey, a 7-y follow-up of the Canada Fitness Surv ey. Indicators of adiposity included body mass index (BMI), sum of 5 skinfo ld thicknesses (SF5), and waist circumference (Waist), whereas indicators o f ATD included the ratio of trunk to extremity skinfold thicknesses adjuste d for SF5 (TERadj), and Waist adjusted for BMI (Waist(adj)). Results: Interage correlations ranged from 0.53 to 0.91 for BMI, from -0.09 to 0.72 for SF5, from 0.24 to 0.89 for Waist, from 0.23 to 0.73 for TERadj , and from 0.18 to 0.77 for Waist(adj). Correlations for BMT were higher th an for SF5, suggesting that fat-free mass may contribute to the stability o f BMI. Although lower than those for BMI, correlations for indicators of AT D were significant, indicating a propensity to retain an android or gynoid pattern. Furthermore, the average percentage of participants remaining in t he lower or upper quintiles for the various indicators ranged from 37.8% to 66.7% in males and from 47.0% to 65.3% in females, indicating that those i n the lower and upper portions of the distribution tend to remain there, Conclusion: Obesity and ATD showed significant stability over 7 y in the Ca nadian population.