Metabolic and anthropometric changes in female weight cyclers and controls over a 1-year period.
OBJECTIVE
Women who diet to lose weight often regain the weight over time, and the cycle repeats itself. The objective of this study was to identify a group of female weight cyclers and to match them with a control group who had never consciously tried to lose weight. For 1 year, weight patterns, eating habits, metabolic parameters, and body composition were assessed to determine whether there was a relationship between weight cycling and these variables.


METHODS
Measurements were done at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Changes in weight, diet, and exercise were monitored throughout the year.


METHODS
All testing was done at a university physiology laboratory.


METHODS
Nine weight cyclers with a notable history of dieting and food restriction were recruited. Subsequently, nine control subjects were selected and matched for age, height, weight, lean body mass, and exercise habits.


METHODS
The observational study included measures of 3-day diet records, skinfold and girth, serum glucose, insulin and triiodothyronine, and resting energy expenditure.


METHODS
The main variables were analyzed using a 2 x 3 (diet group x time) analysis of variance with repeated measures on the time factor. Comparison of the means was done by Tukey post hoc test.


RESULTS
A 7-point satisfaction scale indicated that the weight cyclers were dissatisfied with their weight compared with the noncyclers (P = .03). Otherwise, there were no differences between groups in dietary intakes or the physiologic variables.


CONCLUSIONS
In the parameters measured, a history of weight cycling did not affect the metabolic profiles of the weight cyclers compared with the noncyclers.
McCargar
L
L
School of Family and Nutritional Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Taunton
J
J
Birmingham
C L
CL
Paré
S
S
Simmons
D
D
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D015930:Diet Records; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014284:Triiodothyronine