The objective of this study was to examine the effect of weight history on blood pressure. Extant data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were used to compare blood pressure in women (n = 5,675) and men (n = 4,893) with different 3-year weight histories, but similar current BMI. We used mixed models regression adjusted for ethnicity, age, education, field center, smoking, alcohol consumption, antihypertensive medications, interval length, and BMI at follow-up. We also examined associations between 3-year weight history and blood pressure within weight status categories (normal weight (≥ 18.5 to <25.0 kg/m2), overweight (≥ 25.0 to <30.0 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 30.0 kg/m2)). We found weight history affected both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Compared to men at the same BMI who had maintained their weight, men who had experienced a 10% weight gain over the previous 3 years had systolic and diastolic blood pressures that were 2.6 and 1.9 mm Hg higher, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Associations in women were in the same direction, but smaller at 0.9 and 0.6 mm Hg (P < 0.001). With the exception of diastolic blood pressure in normal weight women, we found no significant interactions between weight change and current weight status. In conclusion, some of the variation in blood pressure among individuals at the same BMI may be due to weight change history. Effects of 3-year weight change history appear to be stronger and more consistent in men than in women, and generally similar regardless of current weight status
