Abstract
BackgroundFrequent weight loss attempts are related to maladaptive eating behaviours and higher body mass index (BMI). We studied associations of several type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors with weight loss history, defined as the frequency of prior weight loss attempts, among Finnish adults at increased risk for T2D.MethodsThis study (n = 2684, 80% women) is a secondary analysis of the 1-year StopDia lifestyle intervention with digital intervention group, digital intervention + face-to-face counselling group, or control group. The frequency of prior weight loss attempts was categorized into five groups: no attempts/no attempts to lose weight, but trying to keep weight stable/1–2 attempts/3 or more attempts/ continuous attempts. Data on emotional eating and social/emotional nutrition self-efficacy were collected with a digital questionnaire. We assessed baseline differences between categories of weight loss history as well as the intervention effects.ResultsAltogether 84% of participants had attempted weight loss. Those with one or more weight loss attempts had higher BMI, larger waist circumference, and more emotional eating compared to ‘no attempts’ and ‘no attempts to lose weight, but trying to keep weight stable’ categories. The ‘no attempts’ category had the highest baseline fasting insulin, whereas it showed the largest decrease in this measure with the intervention. This change in fasting insulin in the ‘no attempts’ category was significantly different from all the other categories. Emotional nutrition self-efficacy slightly improved in the ‘no attempts’ category, which was significantly different from its concomitant decrease in the categories ‘1-2 attempts’ and ‘3 or more attempts’. The intervention group assignment did not affect the results.ConclusionsMultiple attempts to lose weight may unfavourably affect T2D risk factors as well as lifestyle intervention outcomes. More research is needed on how weight loss frequency could affect T2D risk factors and how to design lifestyle interventions for individuals with frequent previous weight loss attempts.
Highlights
INTRODUCTION Type2 diabetes (T2D) is a continuously growing global health problem [1]
The greater number of attempts to lose weight and weight instability have been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) [8,9,10,11], higher prevalence of binge eating disorder in women with obesity [12] as well as in both sexes in a general population [13], greater eating disinhibition in women [13] and maladaptive eating behaviours [14], all of which could mediate the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D)
Given the ever-growing burden of T2D along with ongoing efforts to lose weight, we studied the associations of anthropometric, metabolic, psychological and lifestyle factors with weight loss history, defined as number of prior attempts to lose weight, at baseline and at the end of a 1-year lifestyle intervention, among
Summary
INTRODUCTION Type2 diabetes (T2D) is a continuously growing global health problem [1]. We studied associations of several type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors with weight loss history, defined as the frequency of prior weight loss attempts, among Finnish adults at increased risk for T2D. RESULTS: Altogether 84% of participants had attempted weight loss Those with one or more weight loss attempts had higher BMI, larger waist circumference, and more emotional eating compared to ‘no attempts’ and ‘no attempts to lose weight, but trying to keep weight stable’ categories. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple attempts to lose weight may unfavourably affect T2D risk factors as well as lifestyle intervention outcomes. More research is needed on how weight loss frequency could affect T2D risk factors and how to design lifestyle interventions for individuals with frequent previous weight loss attempts. Tried to lose weight during your lifetime? The question had five answer options: (i) No, (ii) No, but I have been trying to keep my weight stable, (iii)
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