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Characteristics of individuals who report present and past weight loss behaviours: results from a Canadian university community

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Abstract

Purpose

To characterise individuals who reported present and past weight loss behaviours on psycho-behavioural factors known to influence body weight, e.g. overeating, dietary restriction.

Methods

An online questionnaire was distributed to a university community. Questions pertaining to present weight loss, previous weight loss, eating behaviour tendencies, perceived stress and sleep quality were answered by 3,069 individuals. Body weight and height were self-reported.

Results

Present and past weight loss behaviours were prevalent in the sample, with 33.3 % of the participants who reported trying to lose weight, 33.1 % who reported having previously lost weight (>10 lbs), and 18.8 % who reported repeated weight loss behaviour (i.e. present and past weight loss behaviours). Trying to lose weight and previous weight loss were both independently associated with increased risk for psycho-behavioural characteristics known to be associated with obesity, e.g. overeating tendencies, perceived stress, short sleep duration. This risk was particularly elevated among the underweight/normal-weight individuals who reported repeated weight loss behaviours. Indeed, adjusted odds ratios for reporting restrictive and overeating tendencies, perceived stress and short sleep for these individuals were significantly higher compared to their underweight/normal-weight peers who did not report repeated weight loss behaviours (adjusted odds ratios 4.7, 2.7, 1.8, and 1.8, respectively, p < 0.01 to <0.0001).

Conclusions

Normal-weight individuals reporting weight loss behaviours are characterised by a psycho-behaviour profile which may further increase their risk of weight gain.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Ministère de l’éducation, du loisir et du sport du Québec and the Comité relatif au cadre de référence pour une saine alimentation et un mode de vie physiquement actif de l’Université Laval. ARG and EPL are supported by the Heart and Lung Research Institute of Québec (CRIUCPQ). V.P. is a research scholar from the Fonds de recherche du Quebec en santé.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, Laval University, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Annette R. Gallant & Vicky Drapeau

  2. The Québec Heart and Lung Research Institute, Laval Hospital, Québec, G1V 4G5, Canada

    Annette R. Gallant & Vicky Drapeau

  3. Department of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, G9A 5H7, Canada

    Émilie Pérusse-Lachance

  4. Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF), Laval University, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Véronique Provencher

  5. School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Laval University, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Catherine Bégin

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  1. Annette R. Gallant
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  2. Émilie Pérusse-Lachance
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  3. Véronique Provencher
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  4. Catherine Bégin
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  5. Vicky Drapeau
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Correspondence to Annette R. Gallant.

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Gallant, A.R., Pérusse-Lachance, É., Provencher, V. et al. Characteristics of individuals who report present and past weight loss behaviours: results from a Canadian university community. Eat Weight Disord 18, 395–401 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0057-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0057-4

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