Change in women's body mass index and waist circumference, 1997 to 2002: the Nepean study

<b>Objective:</b> To investigate character istics associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference stability over a five-year period in women with school-age children.<br /><br /><b>Methods:</b> Women with 7–8 year-old children from western Sydney, Australia, had anthropometric measures taken in 1996/97 (n====436) and five years later (n=327). Socio-demographic characteristics examined at baseline included age, socioeconomic status, smoking, and number of children.<br /><br /><b>Results: </b>Over five years, less than half of the women maintained a stable BMI (38.8%) or waist circumference (31.5%), with the majority gaining in both indicators of adiposity. BMI and socio-demographic characteristics were not predictive of BMI or waist circumference stability or decrease.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions and Implications:</b> Total and abdominal adiposity increased in these Australian women who have children. The results support the need to develop effective weight gain prevention initiatives.<br /><br />