Weight Trends in Veterans With and Without Diabetes, 2000 to 2014

The aim of this study was to assess weight trends and diabetes prevalence among US veterans.

Information from the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure Corporate Data Warehouse was used to construct data sets that included demographic data, diabetes status, and weight observations for males and females. Secular and longitudinal trends in mean weight were analyzed.

A total of 4,527,865 patients born from 1915 to 1984 with weight data during 2000 to 2014 were included; 36.8% had diabetes. Mean weight at baseline was higher in men and women with diabetes (97 kg and 88 kg, respectively) than in men and women without diabetes (86 kg and 76 kg, respectively). Mean weight increased from 2000 to 2014 (P < 0.001) at rates of 0.36 kg/y in women without diabetes, 0.28 kg/y in men with diabetes, 0.25 kg/y in men without diabetes, and 0.22 kg/y in women with diabetes. Weight decreased in those born before 1940, was stable in those born between 1940 and 1949, and increased in those born since 1950.

Among contemporary veterans, women without diabetes are gaining weight more rapidly than women with diabetes or men. Younger veterans are gaining weight more rapidly than older veterans. Further efforts are needed to prevent weight gain in veterans, especially among women.