Background
Obesity is associated with increased mortality as a significant risk factor for chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Several people believe that weight gain is harmful, and weight loss helps maintain health. However, some studies have shown that weight loss, particularly among older adults, is more likely to increase the risk of mortality than weight gain.
Methods
We used data for the cohort of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, which is a nationwide stratified multi-stage sample of adults aged 45 years. The all-cause mortality risk was assessed using the survival status and the number of months of survival calculated from 2006 (baseline year) to 2016. Cox proportional hazard regression were used to study the causal link between weight change and all-cause mortality risk.
Results
The results showed interactive associations between weight loss and mortality among middle-aged and older adults. The hazard ratio was 1.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–2.40) for the participants aged 45–65 years with weight losses greater than 5 kg and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.29–1.89) for those older than 65 years with weight losses greater than 5 kg. The results for the group with weight gain above 5 kg were not significant. Middle-aged and older men showed an increase in all-cause mortality associated with weight loss of more than 5 kg, but only the older women showed significant results.
Conclusion
This large-scale cohort study in Korea showed a relationship between weight loss and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older individuals.

Citations

• Body mass index trajectories and all-cause mortality in older Chinese adults: Hong Kong’s Elderly Health Service Cohort
  Man Ki Kwok, Siu Yin Lee, Gabriel M Leung, C Mary Schooling
  Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.2025; : jech-2025-223659.     CrossRef
• Associations of obesity indices change with cardiovascular outcomes: a dose-response meta-analysis
  Lyu Wang, Hanyue Ding, Yunyang Deng, Junjie Huang, Xiangqian Lao, Martin C. S. Wong
  International Journal of Obesity.2024; 48(5): 635.     CrossRef
• Social isolation and depression as risk factors for weight loss of 5kg or more among older Korean adults
  Youngjoon Bae, Mark C. Pachucki, Ellen L. Idler
  PLOS ONE.2024; 19(3): e0299096.     CrossRef
• Associations of short‐term changes in obesity indices with all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular disease
  Lyu Wang, Yun‐Yang Deng, Tsung Yu, Xiang‐Qian Lao, Martin C. S. Wong
  Obesity.2024; 32(8): 1568.     CrossRef
• In-hospital outcomes of older patients with gastric cancer and their risk factors: large comprehensive institution-based study
  Lei Huang, Yunmei Liu, Lei Wang, Lan Rong, Weiguo Hu
  European Geriatric Medicine.2024; 15(6): 1909.     CrossRef
• Weight loss rather than weight gain has a detrimental effect on successful aging in older adults: A 4-year longitudinal study in China
  Nan Liu, Tao Liu, Yihan Pan, Jin Wang, Xiaoguang Zhao
  Geriatric Nursing.2024; 60: 297.     CrossRef
• Association of weight change with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: an age-stratified analysis
  Qing-Mei Huang, Dong Shen, Jian Gao, Huan Chen, Jia-Hao Xie, Hao-Yu Yan, Bin Wu, Zhi-Hao Li, Gang Liu, Chen Mao
  BMC Medicine.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Associations of Change in Body Size With All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Healthy Older Adults
  Sultana Monira Hussain, Anne B. Newman, Lawrence J. Beilin, Andrew M. Tonkin, Robyn L. Woods, Johannes T. Neumann, Mark Nelson, Prudence R. Carr, Christopher M. Reid, Alice Owen, Jocasta Ball, Flavia M. Cicuttini, Cammie Tran, Yuanyuan Wang, Michael E. Er
  JAMA Network Open.2023; 6(4): e237482.     CrossRef
• Association between Weight Loss and Hand-Grip Strength with Cause-Specific Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
  Inhwan Lee
  Exercise Science.2023; 32(3): 339.     CrossRef
• Weight Change and Risk of Atherosclerosis Measured by Carotid Intima–Media Thickness (cIMT) from a Prospective Cohort—Analysis of the First-Wave Follow-Up Data of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
  Jian Liu, Newman Sze, Miya Narushima, Deborah O’Leary
  Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease.2023; 10(10): 435.     CrossRef
• Weight maintenance and gain were significantly associated with lower risk of all-cause and cancer-related mortality in Korean adults who were newly diagnosed with cancer based on the Korean NHIS-HEALS cohort
  Yong-June Kim, Seung Park, Won Tae Kim, Yoon-Jong Bae, Yonghwan Kim, Hee-Taik Kang
  Medicine.2023; 102(47): e36184.     CrossRef
• Obesity in Caucasian Seniors on the Rise: Is It Truly Harmful? Results of the PolSenior2 Study
  Monika Puzianowska-Kuznicka, Alina Kurylowicz, Lukasz Wierucki, Aleksander Jerzy Owczarek, Kacper Jagiello, Malgorzata Mossakowska, Tomasz Zdrojewski, Jerzy Chudek
  Nutrients.2022; 14(21): 4621.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to investigate stress, depression, sleeping time, physical activity, and dietary patterns as factors causing weight gain and investigate which of these factors have a greater effect on weight gain.
Methods
Data were obtained from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016. Among the respondents, 3,163 adults aged 19–64 years were included in the survey, after excluding non-responders and those with diseases that may affect weight change. The t-test and chi-square test were used to analyze the relationship between weight gain and general characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate weight changes according to stress, depression, sleep time, physical activity, and dietary patterns and evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) for measuring these associations.
Results
Participants in the weight gain group were younger and more likely to be obese than those in the control group. Factors that could cause weight gain among women were stress awareness (OR, 1.271; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.012–1.597), physical inactivity (OR, 1.250; 95% CI, 1.018–1.535), and skipping breakfast (OR, 1.277; 95% CI, 1.028–1.587). Depression was significantly associated with weight gain among women, but not after adjusting for other variables. There were no significant associations with sleeping time. None of these factors in men were significantly associated with weight gain.
Conclusion
Stress awareness was significantly associated with weight gain among women, while other psychological factors were not significantly associated with weight gain.

Citations

• Body mass as a result of psychological, lifestyle and genetic determinants. A pilot study involving overweight/obese and normal weight women in their early adulthood
  Małgorzata Obara-Gołębiowska, Katarzyna Eufemia Przybyłowicz, Anna Danielewicz, Tomasz Sawicki, Asif Jan
  PLOS ONE.2024; 19(12): e0314942.     CrossRef
• Weightism in Asia: A Narrative Review and Implications for Practice
  Shubashini Mathialagan, Poh Li Lau
  Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome.2024; 33(4): 314.     CrossRef
• Weight Changes and Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors Are Associated With Dysmenorrhea in Young Women
  Kyunghee Han, Nam-Kyoo Lim, Hansol Choi, Bo Mi Song, Hyun-Young Park
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Factors Associated with Breakfast Skipping and Its Attitude among Undergraduate Students of King Khalid University
  Amani Hamad Alhazmi
  King Khalid University Journal of Health Sciences.2023; 8(1): 85.     CrossRef
• Gender Differences in the Relationships between Perceived Stress, Eating Behaviors, Sleep, Dietary Risk, and Body Mass Index
  Chen Du, Mary Adjepong, Megan Chong Hueh Zan, Min Jung Cho, Jenifer I. Fenton, Pao Ying Hsiao, Laura Keaver, Heesoon Lee, Mary-Jon Ludy, Wan Shen, Winnie Chee Siew Swee, Jyothi Thrivikraman, Felicity Amoah-Agyei, Emilie de Kanter, Wenyan Wang, Robin M. Tu
  Nutrients.2022; 14(5): 1045.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef
• Current status and treatment of obesity in Korea
  Jae-Heon Kang
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 783.     CrossRef
• The Use of Self-Help Strategies in Obesity Treatment. A Narrative Review Focused on Hypnosis and Mindfulness
  Marianna Pellegrini, Sara Carletto, Elena Scumaci, Valentina Ponzo, Luca Ostacoli, Simona Bo
  Current Obesity Reports.2021; 10(3): 351.     CrossRef
• Physical Activity, Stress, Depression, Emotional Intelligence, Logical Thinking, and Overall Health in a Large Lithuanian from October 2019 to June 2020: Age and Gender Differences Adult Sample
  Albertas Skurvydas, Ausra Lisinskiene, Marc Lochbaum, Daiva Majauskiene, Dovile Valanciene, Ruta Dadeliene, Natalja Fatkulina, Asta Sarkauskiene
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(23): 12809.     CrossRef
• Factors Predisposing to Weight Gain in Young Adults during COVID-19 Home Confinement
  Alexandra M. Stănilă, Mihaela Oraviţan, Marius L. Matichescu, Cătălin V. Stănilă, Cristiana A. Avram, Bogdan Almăjan-Guţă, Claudiu Avram
  Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal.2021; 14(26): 17.     CrossRef
• Why Does Weight Gain Put More Stress on Women?
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2020; 41(6): 363.     CrossRef

Background
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is highly prevalent among overweight and obese individuals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of weight change on the development of erosive esophagitis (EE).
Methods
A retrospective review of medical records from a university hospital in South Korea identified 7,123 subjects who underwent routine health checkups in 2012 and 2014. We excluded participants with EE in 2012. Body mass index (BMI) changes were classified as loss, stable, mild gain, or moderate gain.
Results
Mild and moderate weight gain increased the odds of EE development (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.84 and OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.87–4.21, respectively) relative to weight stability. Weight loss decreased the odds of EE development (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38–0.90) relative to weight stability. After stratifying subjects into three groups by baseline BMI, those with mild and moderate weight gain in the obese group and moderate gain in the overweight group showed increased odds of EE development relative to members of those groups whose weights remained stable (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.29–3.36; OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.99–7.73 in obese group, and OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.64–6.64 in overweight group, respectively). In comparison, weight loss in the normal weight group decreased the odds of EE development relative to weight stability (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15–0.97).
Conclusion
Weight gain was positively associated with EE development in overweight or obese individuals. Weight loss was negatively associated with EE development in normal-weight individuals.

Citations

• Features of lipid metabolism in patients with erosive esophagitis during the period of martial law
  L.M. Mosiychuk, I.A. Klenina, O.P. Petishko
  GASTROENTEROLOGY.2025; 59(1): 8.     CrossRef
• Nomogram for predicting reflux esophagitis with routine metabolic parameters: a retrospective study
  Tao He, Xiaoyu Sun, Zhijun Duan
  Archives of Medical Science.2024; 20(4): 1089.     CrossRef
• Risk factors and 26-years worldwide prevalence of endoscopic erosive esophagitis from 1997 to 2022: a meta-analysis
  Andro Pramana Witarto, Bendix Samarta Witarto, Shidi Laras Pramudito, Lintang Cahyaning Ratri, Nabilah Azzah Putri Wairooy, Tiffany Konstantin, Achmad Januar Er Putra, Citrawati Dyah Kencono Wungu, Annisa Zahra Mufida, Arief Gusnanto
  Scientific Reports.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Increased risk of reflux esophagitis in non-obese individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study
  Peihong Qiu, Juan Du, Cheng Zhang, Mengting Li, Hongliang Li, Changxi Chen
  Annals of Medicine.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Abdominal obesity increases the risk of reflux esophagitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Junyi Zhan, Mengqi Yuan, Yujie Zhao, Xin Zhang, Tianci Qiao, Tianshu Ji, Hui Gao, Zhiqun Cao, Dongli Wang, Nan Ding
  Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology.2022; 57(2): 131.     CrossRef
• Current status of health promotion in Korea
  Soo Young Kim
  Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 776.     CrossRef

Citations

• Association between waist circumference or weight change after smoking cessation and incidence of cardiovascular disease or all-cause death in Korean adults with type 2 diabetes
  Heajung Lee, Jaeyong Shin, Jae Woo Choi
  Frontiers in Endocrinology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Lifelong smoking status, weight gain, and subsequent risk of major adverse cardiovascular events: Long‐term follow‐up of a middle‐aged Chinese population
  Lirong Liang, Changwei Li, Xiaoqing Liu, Long Zhou, Shuilian Chu, Ruiyuan Zhang, Jinzhuang Mai, Adrianna Westbrook, Jiachen Li, Di Zhang, Liancheng Zhao, Yangfeng Wu
  Obesity.2022; 30(3): 762.     CrossRef
• Smoking Cessation May Reduce Risk of Visual Field Progression in Heavy Smokers
  Golnoush Mahmoudinezhad, Takashi Nishida, Robert N. Weinreb, Sally L. Baxter, Evan Walker, Medi Eslani, Jeffrey M. Liebmann, Christopher A. Girkin, Sasan Moghimi
  Journal of Glaucoma.2022; 31(10): 796.     CrossRef
• Thirty-six Year Trends in Mortality from Diseases of Circulatory System in Korea
  Jongmin Baek, Hokyou Lee, Hyeok-Hee Lee, Ji Eun Heo, So Mi Jemma Cho, Hyeon Chang Kim
  Korean Circulation Journal.2021; 51(4): 320.     CrossRef
• Weight Gain After Smoking Cessation and Risk of Major Chronic Diseases and Mortality
  Berhe W. Sahle, Wen Chen, Lal B. Rawal, Andre M. N. Renzaho
  JAMA Network Open.2021; 4(4): e217044.     CrossRef
• Smoking Cessation, Weight Gain, Cardiovascular Risk, and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis
  Xiaowen Wang, Li-Qiang Qin, Ahmed Arafa, Ehab S Eshak, Yonghua Hu, Jia-Yi Dong
  Nicotine & Tobacco Research.2021; 23(12): 1987.     CrossRef
• Dose-Dependent Effect of Smoking on Risk of Diabetes Remains after Smoking Cessation: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Korea
  Se Eun Park, Mi Hae Seo, Jung-Hwan Cho, Hyemi Kwon, Yang-Hyun Kim, Kyung-Do Han, Jin-Hyung Jung, Yong-Gyu Park, Eun-Jung Rhee, Won-Young Lee
  Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2021; 45(4): 539.     CrossRef
• Cancer risk among young men with weight gain after smoking cessation: A population-based cohort study
  Kyuwoong Kim, Seulggie Choi, Gyeongsil Lee, Su-Min Jeong, Sung Min Kim, Joung Sik Son, Jae-Moon Yun, Yeon-Yong Kim, Seong Yong Park, Sang Min Park
  Cancer Epidemiology.2019; 60: 86.     CrossRef
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  Carol Mitchell, Megan E Piper, Stevens S Smith, Claudia E Korcarz, Michael C Fiore, Timothy B Baker, James H Stein
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  Nancy A Rigotti, Carole Clair
  European Heart Journal.2018; 39(17): 1532.     CrossRef

Background
The relationship of lifestyle and socioeconomic factors with weight change over 4 years in Korean middle-aged group was assessed. Methods: A total of 1,167 men, aged 40∼59 years, were selected from the Health Promotion Center of Ulsan University Hospital during the period of Jan. 2000 through Mar. 2000. Including anthropometric measures, designed questionnaires were administered concern lifestyle behavior topics with cigarette smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, dairy product consumption and socioeconomic factors of monthly income and education. The subjects were divided into three groups by body mass index (BMI: kg/m²); normal (＜23 kg/m²), overweight, and obesity (≥25 kg/m²). After 4 years of follow-up, the men were classified into weight change categories; 1) stable weight group (from normal to normal, from overweight to overweight) and 2) weight gain group (from normal to overweight/obesity, from overweight to obesity). Results: The weight gain group were 18.4% (n=215) and the stable overweight group were 81.6% (n=952). Adjusted for age, the frequency of dairy product consumption, the frequency of alcohol drinking, the regularity of exercise, education and monthly income, the smokers (≥10/day) had significantly high incidence rates of increase in weight (odds ratio=1.77, 95% CI 1.07∼2.90). The increased dairy consumers (≥4/week) had significantly low incidence rates of increase in weight (odds ratio=0.43, 95% CI 0.20∼0.93). Otherwise, there were no significant relationships in weight change. Conclusion: Smoking and decreased dairy product consumption were related to the increase in weight. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29:102-107)

Background
: The purpose of this study was to assess the lifestyle associated with weight gain and persistent overweight for 2 years.

Methods : The subjects were 580 workers (109 men, 471 women) at one university affiliated hospital. Their height and weight were measured twice in 2000 and 2002. A questionnaire, about lifestyle was filled out in 2000. The questionnaire included the average amount of alcohol intake and the number of days per week in which alcohol was consumed, smoking status, and the number of days per week in which exercise was done. Their weight change in 2 years was calculated and their weight status was classified into two groups: persistent normal weight (BMI＜23 kg/m²) and persistent overweight (BMI≥23 kg/m²).

Results : Among the total, 54.3% of men and 10.0% of women had persistent overweight over 2 years. Overall 93.4% of overweight men and 68.7% of overweight women remained overweight after 2 years. Compared with male non-smokers and male ex- smokers, current male smokers gained weight as much as 1.17 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.033). Compared with females who exercised less than 3 per week, those who exercised 3 or more per week lost weight as much as 1.21 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.005). Compared with males who consumed alcohol an average of ≤30 g per consumption, those who consumed an average of ＞30 g were 4.1 times (95% C.I. 1.04∼16.21) more likely to maintain persistent overweight over 2 years after adjustment for age and frequency of alcohol use. However no particular lifestyle was shown to predict the risk of persistent overweight for women.

Conclusion : Regular exercise of moderate intensity and modest alcohol consumption seemed to prevent weight gain and persistent overweight. Such lifestyle may be encouraged to maintain healthy weight.

Background
: Retention of gestational weight can be a significant contributor to obesity related complications. Few studies have assessed the impact of behavioral factors in Korea. This study was performed to identify the impact of factors on weight change at 1 year postpartum.

Methods : A questionnaire was sent twice by mail to 635 women who delivered singleton infant without complications in Seoul Asan Hospital from January 2002 to March 2002 and 97 available responses were received. Parity, pre-pregnancy weight, fullterm weight and postpartum behaviors were collected from routine medical records and questionnaire.

Results : Mean age was 30.5 years and mean pre-pregnancy BMI was 20.9 kg/m². Mean total weight gain during pregnancy was 13.6±4.3 kg and mean weight change at 1 year postpartum was 1.9±3.8 kg. Nearly 17.5% of women experienced a major weight gain of 4.5 kg at 1 year postpartum. Women who had higher pre-pregnancy BMI (≥23 kg/m²) were at high risk for major weight gained at 1 year postpartum (OR: 4.14). Women who gained 13.6 kg or more during pregnancy and with lower income were at high risk for major weight gain at 1year postpartum (OR: 5.28, 4.13 respectively).

Conclusion : Pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain and household monthly income are significantly associated with weight change at 1year postpartum. These findings support the need of the guidelines for preventing major weight retention associated with pregnancy.

Background
: This prospective study was performed to evaluate factors influencing weight changes pregnancy period and postpartum period.

Methods : A total of 195 women followed by prenatal care of the department of OBGY at Ajou University hospital. Suwon, Korea, between march, 1998 and march, 2000. Parity, activity, alcohol, smoking, age of menarche, and age of first and last pregnancy were recorded for prenatal information. Anthropometric measurements was checked at regular visits until 6 weeks after delivery and by telephone call at 6 months and 1 year postpartum.
Rerults : Mean age was 30.1 years old and mean body mass index was 21.1 ㎏/㎡, Mean total weight gain during pregnancy was 13.6±4.63 ㎏ and wide range was at third trimester. It shows that weight reduced gradually until 6 months postpartum but increased after that time. 1 year postpartum weight gain had high correlation(R=0.999, p<0.01) with 6 months postpartum weight gain. Total pregnancy weight gain, weight retention on 6 week postpartum were not significantly correlated with 1 year postpartum Weight gain. OR for becoming overweight on 1 year postpartum(≥5.2 ㎏) with excessive rate of gain on 6 months postpartum(≥2.9 ㎏) was 5.41(95% CI 2.20-13.31) adjusted by multiple logistic regression analysis (age, activity level, parity). OR for becoming overweight on 1 year postpartum with excessive rate of Total pregnancy weight gain(≥13.6 ㎏ was 4.4895% CI 1.84-10.89) by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion : 1 year postpartum weight gain had the correlation with only 6 months postpartum weight gain.

Background
: Low birth weight and high birth weight are closely related to prenatal complications. The purpose of this study is to estimate the association of prepregnancy weight, maternal weight gain and infant birth weight.

Methods : The effect on birth weight in 724 live births after 38~42 weeks gestation was studied at Taegu Medical Center, between January, 1997, and August, 1998. Pregnant women with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, multiple pregnancy and drug abuse were excluded because of their possible influence on birth weight. To study the effect on infant birth weight, multiple regression analysis was carried out.

Results : We evaluated 724 pregnant women and their babies. Mean prepregnancy weight was 52.2±6.9kg, mean maternal weight gain was 13.0±4.6kg, and mean BMI(Body Mass Index) was 20.5±w.5kg/m². Mean gestational age was 278±7.3days and mean birth weight was 3,320.5±405.2gm. Cor-relation coefficient between birth weight and prepregnancy weight was 0.347(p<0.01), and maternal weight gain was 0.248(p<0.01), and BMI(Body Mass Index) was 0.261(p<0.01). Birth weight was significantly correlated with prepregnancy weight(p<0.01) and maternal weight gain(p<0.01), but prepregnancy weight was not significantly correlated with maternal weight gain(p≥0.05). Prepregnancy weight had most apparent influence on birth weight.

Conclusion : Prepregnancy weight and maternal weight gain was positively related to birth weight. These results suggest that there are good effects of properly controlling prepregnancy weight and maternal weight gain in pregnant women and their babies.