Weight and Health Behaviour Changes among Ageing People with Medication for Hypertension and High Cholesterol Level

Abstract EN

Purpose.

It is hypothesized that people with medication for hypertension and/or high cholesterol level do not lose weight or change their health behaviour.

Methods.

This is a six-year follow-up study consisting of 1,428 individuals from two birth cohorts (1936–40, 1946–50) who took part in clinical check-ups and answered to the survey questionnaires in 2002 and 2008.

Results.

Those participants, born in 1946–50, who had medication at the baseline had higher increase of body mass index (P<0.01) and waist circumference (P<0.01) at the follow-up.

No major disparities in health behaviour changes between medicated and nonmedicated were found.

Conclusions.

Findings of this study support partly the hypothesis that aging individuals with medication for hypertension and/or high cholesterol level do not lose weight or change their health behaviour.