Abstract
OBJECTIVES:This present study describes weight control strategies used by a heterogeneous sample of US adults and their associations with weight and behaviour change over time.
DESIGN:A prospective cohort study.
PARTICIPANTS:Participants for this study were 1120 US adults recruited from the community who enrolled in a three-year intervention study to examine methods for preventing age-related weight gain.
MEASURES:Measured body weight and self-reported behaviours related to body weight (dieting practices, dietary intake and physical activity) were completed annually for four years.
RESULTS:Over 70% reported using each of the following dieting strategies at least once in four years: increase exercise (82.2%); decrease fat intake (78.7%); reduce food amount (78.2%); and reduce calories (73.2%). Cumulative duration of use of these behaviours was brief (for example, even the most common behaviours were used only 20% of the time). Global reports of dieting were not predictive of weight change over time. However, a dose–response relationship was observed between reported duration of use of several specific weight loss strategies over the four years and change in behaviours and weight gain.
CONCLUSIONS:These findings suggest that public health recommendations for weight control may need to place greater emphasis on persistence of weight control behaviours.
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French, S., Jeffery, R. & Murray, D. Is dieting good for you?: Prevalence, duration and associated weight and behaviour changes for specific weight loss strategies over four years in US adults. Int J Obes 23, 320–327 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800822
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800822
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