Association between Anxiety Levels and Weight Change in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between anxiety and weight change in a multiethnic cohort followed for approximately 10 years. METHODS The study population consisted of participants of the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis who met specified inclusion criteria (n = 5,799). Weight was measured at baseline and four subsequent follow-up exams. Anxiety was analyzed as sex-specific anxiety quartiles (QANX). The relationship between anxiety level and weight change was examined using a mixed-effect model with weight as the dependent variable, anxiety and time as the independent variables, and adjusted for covariates. RESULTS Average annual weight change (range) was -0.17 kg (-6.04 to 4.38 kg) for QANX 1 (lowest anxiety), -0.16 kg (-10.71 to 4.45 kg) for QANX 2, -0.15 kg (-8.69 to 6.39 kg) for QANX 3, and -0.20 kg (-7.12 to 3.95 kg) for QANX 4 (highest anxiety). No significant association was noted between QANX and weight change. However, the highest QANX was associated with a -2.48 kg (95% CI = -3.65, -1.31) lower baseline weight compared to the lowest QANX after adjustment for all covariates. CONCLUSIONS Among adults, age 45-84, higher levels of anxiety, defined by the STPI trait anxiety scale, are associated with lower average baseline weight but not with weight change.