Few studies have examined the impact of weight history. Extant data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study were used to compare risk factors for normal-weight (body mass index: 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) adults with a history of weight loss (n = 775) with those for persons with a history of weight maintenance (n = 5,164). In this 1987–1998 US study, the authors also compared risk factors for preobese (body mass index: 25.0–29.9 kg/m2) adults with a history of weight gain (n = 1,296) versus weight maintenance (n = 6,721). They used mixed-models regression to adjust for ethnicity, gender, age, education, field center, smoking, alcohol consumption, follow-up time, and follow-up body mass index. Compared with adults with a history of weight maintenance, adults with a 3-year history of weight loss had more favorable total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and similar glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. In contrast, preobese adults with a 3-year history of weight gain had equivalent glucose and lipid levels at follow-up compared with adults with a history of weight maintenance. These findings suggest that, in addition to current weight, weight history may impact glucose and lipid levels
