Characteristics of individuals who report present and past weight loss behaviours: results from a Canadian university community.
OBJECTIVE
To characterise individuals who reported present and past weight loss behaviours on psycho-behavioural factors known to influence body weight, e.g. overeating, dietary restriction.


METHODS
An online questionnaire was distributed to a university community. Questions pertaining to present weight loss, previous weight loss, eating behaviour tendencies, perceived stress and sleep quality were answered by 3,069 individuals. Body weight and height were self-reported.


RESULTS
Present and past weight loss behaviours were prevalent in the sample, with 33.3 % of the participants who reported trying to lose weight, 33.1 % who reported having previously lost weight (>10 lbs), and 18.8 % who reported repeated weight loss behaviour (i.e. present and past weight loss behaviours). Trying to lose weight and previous weight loss were both independently associated with increased risk for psycho-behavioural characteristics known to be associated with obesity, e.g. overeating tendencies, perceived stress, short sleep duration. This risk was particularly elevated among the underweight/normal-weight individuals who reported repeated weight loss behaviours. Indeed, adjusted odds ratios for reporting restrictive and overeating tendencies, perceived stress and short sleep for these individuals were significantly higher compared to their underweight/normal-weight peers who did not report repeated weight loss behaviours (adjusted odds ratios 4.7, 2.7, 1.8, and 1.8, respectively, p < 0.01 to <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Normal-weight individuals reporting weight loss behaviours are characterised by a psycho-behaviour profile which may further increase their risk of weight gain.
Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, Laval University, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada, annette.gallant@criucpq.ulaval.ca.
Annette R
AR
Gallant
Émilie
É
Pérusse-Lachance
Véronique
V
Provencher
Catherine
C
Bégin
Vicky
V
Drapeau
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002170:Canada; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss