Journal of Correctional Health Care - April 2023 - 129

OBESITY IN PRISON: A META-ANALYSIS
129
Studies Describing Perceived Weight Changes
One study describes weight change as perceived by people
in prison (Wolff et al., 2012) and another proposes a
causal relationship between incarceration and weight
gain (Leigey & Johnston, 2015). Wolff et al. (2012)
report that 41% of females and 29.9% of males selfreported
weight gain during incarceration. Leigey and
Johnston's (2015) study on aging incarcerated females
reports that women in their 50s had the greatest weight
gain.
Studies Describing Measured Assessment
of Weight Changes
Weight gain during incarceration was demonstrated in
the majority of study participants measured by four studies
(Baldwin et al., 2016; Clarke & Waring, 2012; Drach
et al., 2016; Massie, 2000). Of these four studies, three
included females only (Clarke & Waring, 2012; Drach
et al., 2016; Massie, 2000), while one included males
(Baldwin et al., 2016). All anthropomorphic measurements
were objective, taken either from medical records
or obtained by researchers. Assessment period of weight
change varied from 12 weeks (Clarke & Waring, 2012) to
3 years (Massie, 2000), though people included in these
studies had been incarcerated between 1 day and several
years at the beginning of the study.
Between 64% (Massie, 2000) and 75% (Baldwin et al.,
2016) of incarcerated people gained weight during the
study period. Weight gain was measured weekly in two
studies and ranged from 0.37 pounds (0.17 kg) per
week (Baldwin et al., 2016) to 1.1 pounds (0.5 kg) per
week (Clarke & Waring, 2012); total weight gain over
6 to 36 months was measured between 13 pounds
(5.9 kg) (Massie, 2000) and 20 pounds (9.07 kg) (Drach
et al., 2016) in two other studies.
Factors Associated with Weight Gain
During Incarceration
Table 3 identifies risk factors associated with OB and
weight gain during incarceration. Factors investigated
include gender, race, age, chronic physical ormental health
concerns, medications, tobacco use, drug use, withdrawal,
activity levels, stress, and diet. For example, several studies
indicate females are at higher risk of OB (Bai et al., 2015;
Befus et al., 2015; Brewer-Smyth, 2014; Brewer-Smyth
et al., 2016; Clarke & Waring, 2012; Drach et al., 2016;
Massie, 2000), especially Black females (Befus et al.,
2015; Leigey & Johnston, 2015).
Incarceration itself (Baldwin et al., 2016; Wolff et al.,
2012), length of incarceration (Clarke & Waring, 2012;
Drach et al., 2016; Massie, 2000), and stress (Clarke &
Waring, 2012) are reportedly risk factors for weight
gain. Studies analyze history of tobacco or drug use
and withdrawals (Clarke & Waring, 2012) as well as
Table 3. Associated Factors Impacting Weight
Mental or
Authors
Bai et al. (2015)
Female
gender
X
Befus et al. (2015) X
Brewer-Smyth (2014) X X
Brewer-Smyth et al.
(2016)
Khavajou et al. (2007)
Leigey and Johnston
(2015)
Wolff et al. (2012)
Baldwin et al. (2016)
Clarke and Waring
(2012)
Drach et al. (2016) X
Massie (2000)
X
X
XX
X
XX X
X
X
X
X
XX
X
X
X
X
XX
X
X
X
NonCaucasian
Black
female
>50-Yearold
female
physical
illness;
chronic
health problems
X
X
Staphylococcus
aureus
Medications
History of
tobacco
use
Low
Withdrawal
from drugs
Being
incarcerated
Length of
incarceration
activity
levels Stress
Commissary
intake/
excess
calories
Journal of Correctional Health Care - April 2023

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