The context of weight changes: factors associated with weight changes in adult women.
The purpose of the investigation was to identify what factors are associated with body weight and with year-to-year changes in body weight. To this end, a broad spectrum of assessments was made. Outcomes of the assessments were correlated with the dependent variables, net weight change, and current body mass index among 87 women not associated with a weight-loss program. The subjects were volunteers of middle socioeconomic status with a mean age of 45 years. Two-thirds were overfat. Multiple regression models were constructed to predict the dependent variables. The weight changers were most likely to be obese. Approximately 30% of the variance in body mass index could be accounted for by a positive association with eating anxiety scores and satisfaction with food intake scores. It was not possible to explain a meaningful portion of the variance in net weight change. The findings are consistent with a pendulum pattern of weight changes with a swing range of at least 1 year. Factors that are associated with obesity are not necessarily correlated with weight changes.
Parham
E S
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Department of Human and Family Resources, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb 60115.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001290:Attitude; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies