Ten-year weight gain is not associated with multiple cardiometabolic measures in Alaska EARTH study participants

Abstract Background and Aims Alaska Native (AN) traditional lifestyle may be protective against chronic disease risk. Weight gain in adulthood has been linked to increases in chronic disease risk among other populations; yet, its impact among Alaska Native people has never been evaluated. We aimed to evaluate changes in obesity-related metrics over time, and determine associations of changes with cardiometabolic markers of chronic disease risk among AN people. Methods and Results Study participants enrolled in the southcentral Alaska Education and Research Towards Health Study in 2004-2006 were invited to participate in a follow-up study conducted 2015-2017. Of the original 1,320 participants, 388 completed health assessments consisting of multiple health surveys, anthropometric measurements, and cardiometabolic measures including blood sugars, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Differences in measurements between visits were determined and associations of weight change with cardiometabolic measures evaluated. Body mass index increased by 3.7 kg/m2 among men and 4.8 kg/m2 among women. Hip circumference (1.1 cm, p Conclusions While weight increase over a 10-year period was not associated with substantive changes in cardiometabolic measures among AN men, there was a decrease in high density lipid cholesterol associated with weight gain among AN women.