title: Weight cycling is associated with body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between history of multiple weight loss diets followed by weight regain, namely weight cycling (WCy), and both body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-day cross-sectional survey ("Obesity-Day") including 914 participants (605F:309M). Anthropometric variables (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC] and waist-to-height ratio [WtHR]), covariates and WCy (≥ 5 intentional weight loss episodes of ≥ 5 kg followed by rapid return to pre-diet or higher body weight) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire, interview and physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data on central fat accumulation (by WC and WtHR) were available in a representative sub-group (n = 600). WCy was reported by 119 participants (13.0%) of total population and by 79 (13.2%) of those with available data on central fat accumulation. At multivariable linear regressions WCy was independently associated with higher BMI (P = .004), WC (P = .011) and WtHR (P = .008). Sensitivity analyses, performed after excluding those being on a diet at the time of assessment, confirmed these findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A history of WCy appears related to body weight excess and abdominal fat accumulation. These findings support the importance of designing adequate weight loss programs to achieve long-term weight maintenance and to prevent undesirable and unhealthy weight accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics Service, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy. e.cereda@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cereda
authors.forename: Alexis Elias
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Malavazos
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caccialanza
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rondanelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fatati
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barichella
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs