August 2016 Article Abstract

Summary:

In the US and Australia about 50-69% of women aged 40 to 50 years old report trying to lose weight. Effective weight control-methods for women and the influence it has on eating behaviors is not clear. Studies have shown that women’s self-reported weight controlling strategies are generally ineffective, and sometimes involve unhealthy methods such as laxative use, smoking, or diet pills. Women who use unhealthy weight controlling strategies tend to gain more weight overtime compared to healthier methods, such as dietary changes or increased physical activity. Whether one or multiple weight management methods are used, weight gain occurs after two years in both types of weight management groups. It is suggested that the dieting population may be misinformed on energy dense foods and lacking in intuitive eating practice. Dieting has also been associated with increased risk for binge eating. The purpose of this study is to find associations between women who are “trying to lose weight”, “trying to maintain weight”, and currently making “no attempt” at a baseline and 3 years later. Changes in intuitive eating and binge eating were also evaluated in these groups.

The participants for this study included 1,601 women aged 40-50 years. The baseline and 3-year questionnaire collected information on demographics, height, weight, food habits (New Zealand National Nutrition Survey & FFQ used), intuitive eating practice, and binge eating risk.

The results showed that those who were trying to lose weight at a baseline did not have a change in body weight 3 years later. Those trying to lose/maintain weight in comparison to not attempting to lose weight had similar dietary habits in relation to energy dense food consumption. For the trying to lose weight group it was also found that intuitive eating scores decreased at three years and their risk for binge eating increased.

The article concluded more education on food choices may be required due to the high consumption of energy dense foods in all groups. Also, education regarding effective weight control methods should be addressed. Finally, dieting may decrease women’s ability to recognize hunger and fullness cues, and may lead to increased binge eating.

AND Continuing Education Article:

Leong, S. L., Gray, A., Haszard, J., & Horwath, C. (2016). Research: Weight-Control Methods, 3-Year Weight Change, and Eating Behaviors: A Prospective Nationwide Study of Middle-Aged New Zealand Women. Journal Of The Academy Of Nutrition And Dietetics, 1161276-1284. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.02.021

Supplemental Article 1:

Jeffery, R.W., Abbott, G., Ball, K., Crawford, D. (2013). Behavior and weight correlates of weight-control efforts in Australian women living in disadvantage: The READI study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(1), 10-52.

Supplemental Article 2:

Madden, C., Leong, S., Gray, A., & Horwath, C. (2012). Eating in response to hunger and satiety signals is related to BMI in a nationwide sample of 1601 mid-age New Zealand women. Public Health Nutrition, 15(12), 2272-2279. doi:10.1017/S1368980012000882