Background: Obesity is a serious health problem with a rather difficult treatment and prevention. Estimating weight gain along adult life may be useful for preventing adult obesity.
Subjects and method: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 1,286 adults who self-reported a weight gain from age 20 years.
Results: The average weight gain per decade was about 4.5 kg in males and females aged 20 to 49 years. Among subjects aged 50 to 69 years, it was 1 kg in men and 2 kg in women, approximately. Body weight decreased from age 70 years onwards.
Conclusion: Weight gain appears to be progressive from the third up to the seventh decade of life in both sexes, yet it is more persistent in women.