title: Dieting Increases the Likelihood of Subsequent Obesity and BMI Gain: Results from a Prospective Study of an Australian National Sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diet is a major determinant of obesity; however, findings from the studies examining how dieting to lose weight affects weight gain have been inconclusive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to examine the longitudinal association of frequency of dieting for weight loss with (a) obesity status and (b) body mass index (BMI) change.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from Waves 9 (2009) and 10 (2010) of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. Binominal logistic regression estimated the association of frequency of dieting in 2009 on probability of obesity in 2010. Multinomial logistic regression estimated the association of frequency of dieting in 2009 on the probability of BMI gain versus BMI maintenance and BMI loss between 2009 and 2010. The analysis sample size was 8824.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to those who were never on a diet in the previous year, the odds of obesity were 1.9, 2.9, and 3.2 times higher among those who were on a diet once, more than once, and always, respectively. Similarly, the odds of BMI gain versus BMI maintenance and also versus BMI loss were higher among those who dieted than those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dieting to lose weight can contribute to the risk of future obesity and weight gain. Losing weight requires a commitment to change one's lifestyle and a sustained effort to maintain a healthy diet and engage in physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4365, USA. msiahpush@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siahpush
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4365, USA. mtibbits@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tibbits
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4365, USA. raees.shaikh@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Raees A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: US Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers lane, Room 18-41, Rockville, MD, 20857, USA. gsingh@hrsa.gov.
authors.forename: Gopal K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4365, USA. asia.sikora@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Asia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sikora Kessler
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4365, USA. tthuang@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Terry T-K
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body mass index; Dieting; Obesity; Weight change; Weight gain; Weight loss