Temperamental factors in severe weight cycling. A cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Weight cycling is a prevalent phenomenon in obese individuals. There is evidence that temperamental factors are associated with obesity and subgroups among the obese have been identified based on reactive and regulative aspects of temperament.


METHODS
We aimed at investigating the association between reactive and regulative aspects of temperament and severe weight cycling in overweight and obese individuals of a representative German population sample (n = 923). Participants completed questionnaires assessing weight parameters including BMI and weight cycling, sensitivity to punishment and to reward (BIS/BAS scales), self-regulatory abilities (effortful control scale), depressive symptoms, and binge eating.


RESULTS
Severe weight cycling was more common in women, and was associated with higher reward sensitivity, higher current and maximum-ever BMI, higher weight suppression, more depressive symptoms, and a higher prevalence of binge eating. In contrast, sensitivity to punishment and effortful control were not associated with severe weight cycling. Also, the interaction between sensitivity to reward and effortful control did not predict weight cycling.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher reward sensitivity might not only render individuals vulnerable for weight regain but might also be associated with a higher frequency of weight loss attempts due to the putative rewarding properties of the initial success in weight loss at the early stages of a diet. Temperamental factors should be considered in the treatment of obesity.
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Martina
M
Zwaan
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Stefan
S
Engeli
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: mueller.astrid@mh-hannover.de.
Astrid
A
Müller
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011678:Punishment; D012201:Reward; D000068356:Self-Control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
Effortful control; Reward sensitivity; Temperament; Weight cycling