Time series analysis was carried out on monthly data of body weight and blo
od pressure of one male subject from 29 to 65 years of age by the program C
ensus X-ll and DECOMP. Body weight increased from 55 kg to 70 kg from 30 to
50 years, then decreased to 60 kg afterward. The trend factor of body weig
ht obtained by X-ll fluctuated markedly even after the removal of seasonal
and irregular components, The trend factor of systolic blood pressure incre
ased from 120 mmHg to 140 mmHg from 40 to 55 years, while diastolic blood p
ressure increased from 70 mmHg to 90 mmHg around 40 years of age. These cha
nges were also accompanied by many fluctuations. The program DECOMP suggest
ed that the fluctuations observed in X-ll were expressed by an autoregressi
ve model. From the viewpoint of the most appropriate autoregressive model,
it is possible that at younger ages body weight and systolic blood pressure
may be affected by the values of the previous several months. On the ether
hand, they may be affected by the values of the previous month or two at o
lder ages, Spectral analysis was also applied to the autoregressive model.
Peaks at about 20, 30, or 40 months were observed in body weight changes. T
he pattern of the seasonal factor changed with age in body weight and blood
pressure. In body weight, the peak appeared in the summer at younger ages,
but; in the autumn or winter at older ages. In blood pressure, the peak di
d not always appear in the winter. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.