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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Weight loss is strongly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and impacts symptoms and disease progression. The aim of this study was to describe changes in body composition and to explore how body weight (BW), relates to disease progression and medication in the early phase of PD.

METHODS: Participants in a prospective community-based case-control study of PD were followed-up three years after initial diagnosis. Anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) measurements were used together with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a 24-h recall (24-HR) and a 3-day food registration (3-DFR) to complete the evaluation of nutritional status. Disease severity was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score (UPDRS III), and the Hoehn and Yahr rating.

RESULTS: The PD patients' BW gained 1.62 kg (±4.60, P = 0.009), an increase that significantly correlated with fat mass (FM) (r = 0.74), waist size (r = 0.65), waist/height ratio (r = 0.64), and total skin fold (r = 0.77). Linear regression showed an association between change in BW and physical activity level (PAL) (B = -8.554; P = 0.025) confirmed by the multiple linear regression. Linear regression also revealed an association between change in FM and MMSE (B = 0.654; P = 0.027).

CONCLUSION: In early PD, weight gain was revealed over three years accompanied by an increase in FM and waist circumference. An inverse relation was revealed between change in BW and PAL. The MMSE, UPDRS III, and Hoehn and Yahr rating were unchanged. Medication and swallowing difficulties were not associated with change in BW.