Lifetime weight cycling and psychological health in normal-weight and overweight women.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between weight cycling history and psychological health was studied in a sample of 429 normal-weight and overweight women.


METHODS
Participants were from the Healthy Women Study, a longitudinal investigation of biological and psychosocial aspects of menopause. Participants were asked to report retrospectively details on their weight cycling history in terms of the frequency and magnitude of previous weight loss episodes. Data were examined using the total cycle weight lost and the frequency of weight cycles > or = 10 lb. Self-reported measures of depression, stress, anxiety, and anger were used to evaluate psychological health.


RESULTS
For both normal-weight and overweight women, the analyses revealed no adverse relationships between weight cycling history and the psychological measures.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that a history of weight cycling regardless of weight status does not adversely impact psychological health.
Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
L R
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Simkin-Silverman
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Wing
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Plantinga
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Matthews
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Kuller
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors