Dietary restraint and body mass change. A 3-year follow up study in a representative Dutch sample.
OBJECTIVE
To determine in a representative Dutch sample the association of dietary restraint, Concern for Dieting, and Weight Fluctuation with subsequent change in body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) in addition to possible moderator effects of sex, level of education, age category, ethnicity, overweight level and physical activity.


METHODS
In a longitudinal study in a representative Dutch sample consisting of 675 participants (331 females, 344 males), dietary restraint (including Concern for Dieting and Weight Fluctuation) was assessed with the Restraint Scale at baseline, and also self-reported weight and height. Three years later, weight and height were also assessed.


RESULTS
Dietary restraint was significantly associated with an increase in BMI after three years (B=.272, p=001). Inspection of the significant moderator effect of sex (B=-.387, p=.012) indicated that dietary restraint was significantly associated with increases in BMI only in females. There was no main effect for Concern for Dieting (p=.091). There was a moderator effect of sex on the association between Concern for Dieting and BMI change (B=-.424; p=.002): initial concern for dieting was positively associated with subsequent body mass gain only in women. Weight Fluctuation was significantly associated with an increase in BMI after three years (B=.162, p=008) and sex did not moderate this association. There were no moderator effects for level of education, age category, ethnicity, overweight level and physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary restraint and Concern for Dieting are associated with increases in BMI only in females. Weight Fluctuation is associated with increases in BMI in both males and females.
Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute for Gender Studies and Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: T.vanstrien@psych.ru.nl.
Tatjana
T
van Strien
The Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ont. M553G3, Canada.
C Peter
CP
Herman
TNO, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Marieke W
MW
Verheijden
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
Body mass change; Concern for Dieting; Dietary restraint; Longitudinal study; Representative sample; Weight Fluctuation