Relationship between initial fatness level and long‐term fatness change

Abstract

As shown in 2576 individuals followed over a 2-decade period, there is a direct and linear relationship between initial fatness level and long-term fatness change. Those who are lean initially show the greatest fatness gains and those who are obese show the greatest fatness losses. These systematic relationships between fatness level and fatness change, which hold for both sexes and for children and adults alike, challenge the notion that fatnesss level is fixed over long periods of time.