Methodology for Estimating Age of Onset of Overweight Using Self-Reported Historical Height and Weight Data

• Activity Number: 210
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 7, 2006 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Epidemiology
• Author(s): Henry Xia*+ and Virginia Freid and Patricia Pastor
• Companies: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Keywords: statistics ; overweight ; public health

Abstract

Between 1988--94 and 2001--04 the percentage of Americans who were overweight increased from 56% to 66%. Understanding how the AOOW varies for different subgroups in the population is useful for health education programs. This study used up to six self-reported weights and two self-reported heights over respondent's lifetimes to determine AOOW and persistence of overweight. A sex-specific model, based on a logistic growth curve and second order polynomial curve, used measured body height to impute height for ages for which only data about weight were collected. Males, Mexicans, and people below twice poverty were more likely to experience onset of overweight before the age of 30. Females, non-Hispanic whites, and nonpoor persons were more likely to become overweight at 30 years and over. People with early onset of overweight were more likely to become obese later in life.