Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA

Correspondence to: A K Kant, Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Remsen Hall, Room 306E, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. E-mail: ashima_kant@qc.edu

Objective: This study examined the reported intake of foods and nutrients, and biomarkers of dietary exposure and cardiovascular disease in relation to history of trying to lose weight.

Methods: Dietary, anthropometric and biochemical data were from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), n=13 092. The history of attempting weight loss variable was created as follows: trying to lose currently and tried in the past 12 months (Y/Y); trying to lose currently, but not tried in the past 12 months (Y/N), not trying currently, but tried in the past 12 months (N/Y); not trying now and not tried in the past 12 months (N/N). Multiple regression methods were used to examine the independent association of history of trying to lose weight with reported intakes of energy, nutrients, percentage energy from low-nutrient-dense foods (sweeteners, baked and dairy desserts, visible fats and salty snacks), and serum concentrations of vitamins, carotenoids and lipids.

Results: Men and women in the Y/Y group reported lower energy intake relative to the N/N group (P<0.0000). However, the reported percentage energy from fat and carbohydrate by the Y/Y group did not differ from the N/N group. Percentage of energy from low-nutrient-dense foods was lower in men in the Y/Y group but not women. The relative odds of reporting the estimated average requirement (EAR) of folate, and vitamins A, B₆, B₁₂, C, E and iron and adequate intake (AI) of calcium were not adversely affected by history of trying to lose weight in men. In women, the odds of meeting the folate and vitamin E EAR were lower in the Y/Y group. Some history of weight loss categories were significant positive predictors of serum vitamin and carotenoid concentrations, or unrelated to cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers.

Conclusions: There was little evidence for increased nutritional risk in those reporting repeat attempts at weight loss.

International Journal of Obesity (2002) 26, 1194-1204.. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802024

weight cycling; yo-yo dieting; weight variability; food intake; low-nutrient-dense foods; biomarkers; NHANES III