• Adrianne C Feldstein, Gregory A Nichols, David H Smith, A Gabriela Rosales, and Nancy Perrin.
• Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, OR 97227, USA. Adrianne.C.Feldstein@kpchr.org
• J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Sep 1; 23 (9): 133913451339-45.

BackgroundLimited community-based data describe weight change after diabetes diagnosis.ObjectiveTo evaluate weight change patterns and associations in the 1st year after diabetes mellitus type 2 diagnosis.DesignRetrospective cohort study.ParticipantsPatients aged 21-75 with diabetes mellitus type 2 diagnosed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2004, identified from electronic medical records in Kaiser Permanente Northwest, a health maintenance organization. Eligible patients met weight measurement criteria (a baseline and three additional weight measurements) and did not have a condition associated with unintentional weight change (n = 4,135).MeasurementsWe estimated 12-month patient weight trajectories using growth curve analyses, grouped similar trajectories using cluster analysis, and compared characteristics among groups.ResultsThe four weight trajectory groups were "higher stable weight" (n = 757; 18.3%), "lower stable weight" (n = 2,236; 54.1%), "weight gain" (n = 664; 16.0%), and "weight loss" (n = 478; 11.6%). After adjustments, members of the weight-loss group were more likely than those in the weight-gain group to be older, female, take fewer medications, have had nutritionist visits, and have a lower mean HbA(1c). Those in the weight-loss group were less likely to be in a race group at higher risk for obesity, have depression or dyslipidemia, or have taken >30 days of a sulfonylurea alone or with metformin.ConclusionsA small-but-substantial group of patients had a mean weight trajectory that included a clinically significant weight loss. Weight-loss trajectories were strongly associated with better glycemic control when compared to weight gain. Patients with certain characteristics may need more support for weight loss.

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