Impact of weight cycling on risk of morbidity and mortality
- 29 September 2014
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Obesity Reviews
- Vol. 15 (11), 870-881
- https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12222
Abstract
Unintentional weight gain is commonly observed in adult humans, often provoking intentional weight loss attempts followed by unintentional weight regain. This episodic variation in body weight over a period of time has been referred to as ‘weight cycling’. Over the last two decades, weight cycling has been associated with a number of morbid health conditions and increased mortality. This article provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent weight‐cycling evidence, looks to understand design differences between studies and study outcomes, assesses the need for further research on particular health outcomes, and proposes alternative methodologies that will bridge the needs and capabilities of research. Searches were conducted per PRISMA guidelines. Articles on weight cycling in the literature were initially identified using search strings in PubMed. Eligibility assessment of the remaining articles was performed independently by three reviewers to identify publications that presented direct evidence. Twenty human studies (in addition to seven animal studies) were selected and retained; 12 accounted for the intentionality of weight loss. Although weight regain following successful weight loss remains one of the most challenging aspects of body‐weight regulation, evidence for an adverse effect of weight cycling appears sparse, if it exists at all.Keywords
This publication has 62 references indexed in Scilit:
- Atherosclerosis and cardiac function assessment in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice undergoing body weight cyclingNutrition & Diabetes, 2013
- Weight Cycling and Cancer: Weighing the Evidence of Intermittent Caloric Restriction and Cancer RiskCancer Prevention Research, 2011
- Differential Associations of Weight Dynamics With Coronary Artery Calcium Versus Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media ThicknessAmerican Journal of Epidemiology, 2010
- Frequent intentional weight loss is associated with higher ghrelin and lower glucose and androgen levels in postmenopausal womenNutrition Research, 2010
- Incident Diabetes in Relation to Weight Patterns During Middle AgeAmerican Journal of Epidemiology, 2010
- Weight Cycling and Mortality Among Middle-aged or Older WomenJAMA Internal Medicine, 2009
- Body Weight Dynamics and Their Association With Physical Function and Mortality in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health StudyThe Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2009
- Weight Loss and Regain and Effects on Body Composition: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition StudyThe Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2009
- Obesity and Weight Gain in Adulthood and Telomere LengthCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2009
- Bone mineral density and content during weight cycling in female rats: effects of dietary amylase-resistant starchNutrition & Metabolism, 2008