Objective: To study changes in lifestyle in relation to changes in body weight and waist circumference associated with occupational retirement in men. Design: A prospective cohort study with 5 years of follow-up. At baseline and at follow-up, questionnaires were completed and body weight and waist circumference were measured. Setting: The Doetinchem Cohort Study, consisting of inhabitants of Doetinchem, a town in a rural area of The Netherlands. Subjects: In total 288 healthy men aged 50 -65 years at baseline, who either remained employed or retired over follow-up. Results: The effect of retirement on changes in weight and waist circumference was dependent on type of former occupation. Increase in body weight and waist circumference was higher among men who retired from active jobs (0.42 kg year 21 and 0.77 cm year 21, respectively) than among men who retired from sedentary jobs (0.08 kg year 21 and 0.23 cm year 21 , respectively). Weight gain and increase in waist circumference were associated with a decrease in fruit consumption and fibre density of the diet, with an increase in frequency of eating breakfast, and with a decrease in several physical activities, such as household activities, bicycling, walking and doing odd jobs. Conclusion: Retirement was associated with an increase in weight and waist circumference among those with former active jobs, but not among those with former sedentary jobs. Retirement may bring opportunities for healthy changes in diet and physical activity, which could be used in health promotion programmes.

To postpone cognitive decline and dementia in old age, primary prevention is required earlier in life during middle age. Dietary components may be modifiable determinants of mental performance. In the present study, habitual fruit and vegetable intake was studied in association with cognitive function and cognitive decline during middle age. In the Doetinchem Cohort Study, 2613 men and women aged 43-70 years at baseline (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002) were examined for cognitive function twice, with a 5-year time interval. Global cognitive function and the domains memory, information processing speed and cognitive flexibility were assessed. Dietary intake was assessed with a semi-quantitative FFQ. In multivariate linear regression analyses, habitual fruit and vegetable intake was studied in association with baseline and change in cognitive function. Higher reported vegetable intake was associated with lower information processing speed (P¼0·02) and worse cognitive flexibility (P¼ 0·03) at baseline, but with smaller decline in information processing speed (P, 0·01) and global cognitive function (P¼0·02) at follow-up. Total intakes of fruits, legumes and juices were not associated with baseline or change in cognitive function. High intakes of some subgroups of fruits and vegetables (i.e. nuts, cabbage and root vegetables) were associated with better cognitive function at baseline and/or smaller decline in cognitive domains. In conclusion, total intake of fruits and vegetables was not or inconsistently associated with cognitive function and cognitive decline. A high habitual consumption of some specific fruits and vegetables may diminish age-related cognitive decline in middle-aged individuals. Further research is needed to verify these findings before recommendations can be made.

Skinfold thickness during adolescence is a better predictor of high body fatness during adulthood than is BMI during adolescence.