Characterizing Dietary Intake and Physical Activity Affecting Weight Gain in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Context— Weight gain after kidney transplantation affects 50% to 90% of kidney transplant recipients. Factors leading to weight gain in recipients are thought to include a change in lifestyle (eg, dietary intake and physical activity), age, race, sex, and immunosuppressant medications.Objective— To examine dietary intake and physical activity of kidney transplant recipients at baseline and 3 and 6 months after transplantation to identify contributing factors to weight gain.Design— Descriptive, correlational study using secondary data from a larger parent study examining genetic and environmental contributors to weight gain after kidney transplantation.Participants and Setting— Forty-four kidney transplant recipients at a mid-South university hospital-based transplant institute who had dietary intake, physical activity, and clinical data at baseline and 3 and 6 months were included.Main Outcome Measures— Dietary intake, physical activity, weight, and body mass index.Results— Mean weight gain increased by 6% from baseline to 6 months. Interestingly, dietary intake did not change significantly from baseline to 6 months. Hours of sleep per day decreased during the same period (P= .02). Dietary intake, physical activity, age, race, sex, and immunosuppression showed no significant relationship to weight gain at 6 months.Conclusion— Little consideration has been given to dietary intake and physical activity of kidney transplant recipients and the effects of these variables on weight gain. Further studies with a larger sample are needed, as weight gain after transplantation is a significant risk factor for diminished long-term outcomes.