Selected metabolic results of the Leipzig gerontological longitudinal study

The results of the longitudinal study show a gradual development of the overweight of young obese women. The decrease of weight in middle aged obese women is likely to be influenced by additional therapeutic measures by the physicians. It is interesting to note that men and women of normal weight do not develop overweight over a ten-years-span. Serum cholesterol increased in all age and weight groups within a ten-years-interval. The changes of the shares of total fatty acids were especially characterized by the decrease of palmitic acid and the increase of linoleic acid in the ten-years-interval. However age, weight and sex differences were present. The increase of uric acid level occurred with all test persons independent of sex. With test persons above 45 years a significant sex difference was noticed.