Relationships between body weight change and cardiovascular disease risk factors in male former athletes

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2001-07, Vol.25 (7), p.1057-1062
• Main Authors: PIHL, E, JÜRIMÄE, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Athletes; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood pressure; Body fat; Body mass index; Body weight; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; Exercise; Health risks; Hypertension; Lifestyles; Lipids; Medical sciences; Mortality; Obesity; Pedagogy; Physical fitness; Questionnaires; Risk factors; Smoking; Weight control
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801642

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the cardiovascular disease risk factor profile in former athletes according to their weight-change patterns during the postcompetitive period. DESIGN:: Cohort study with a retrospective assessment of baseline weight of male former top-level athletes. SUBJECTS:: One-hundred and fifty top-level athletes aged 35-60 y were divided into four groups according to the weight-change patterns during the postcompetitive period (weight loss, constant weight, weight gain over 3.0 kg and weight gain over 10.0 kg). MEASUREMENTS:: Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, percentage fat, skinfolds, waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR), resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), serum lipids and lipoproteins (CHOL, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG), and physical working capacity. A questionnaire was drawn up to evaluate current and previous physical activity, lifestyle indices and to record weight at the age of 20 (according to sports diaries). RESULTS:: Weight gain over 10.0 kg in former athletes was closely associated with higher body mass index, percentage body fat, skinfold thickness, WHR, SBP, DBP, LDL-C and TG values, as well as lower HDL-C, HDL-C/CHOL ratio and physical working capacity values. After adjustment for confounders, the weight gainers over 10.0 kg revealed a higher risk of hypertension (OR 6.65; 95% CI 2.99-11.65), abdominal fat distribution pattern (OR 10.51; 95% CI 6.11-16.24), elevated LDL-C (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.15-3.06) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.12-8.56) compared with those whose weight was constant. Weight loss and weight gain less than 10.0 kg were significantly related to increased risk for abdominal fat distribution pattern. CONCLUSION:: The results of the present study showed that weight gain during the postcompetitive period was associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in male former athletes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY: (2001) 25, 1057-1062