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Preventing weight gain: a population cohort study of the nature and effectiveness of mid-age women's weight control practices

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages 978–986 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine women's weight control practices and their effectiveness in preventing weight gain.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study of weight control practices and 2-year weight change among mid-age women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH).

Subjects:

11 589 Australian women (aged 47–52 years).

Measurements:

The prevalence and types of self-reported weight control practices used were assessed by a nine-item instrument. Two-year weight change was self-reported and adjusted for baseline body mass index (BMI) and other potential confounders.

Results:

Seventy-four per cent of the cohort (N=8556) reported actively trying to control their weight. Dietary modification was used more frequently than exercise. Two-thirds of the weight-controlling women used a combination of practices, the two most common being ‘decreased food quantity, cut down on fats/sugars and exercise’ (32%, baseline BMI 25.87(0.10)), and ‘decreased food quantity and cut down on fats/sugars without exercise’ (15.6%, baseline BMI 27.04(0.14)). Potentially health-damaging practices (smoking, laxatives, fasting) were relatively uncommon, at 7.9%. Only one combination of practices (decreased food quantity, cut down on fats/sugars, use of a commercial weight loss programme and exercise) prevented mean weight gain (−0.03 kg), whereas the mean (s.d.) weight of the cohort increased (+1.19(4.78)) over the 2-year period.

Conclusions:

The majority of mid-age women attempting weight control used practices consistent with public health messages. Despite their efforts, the group was mostly unsuccessful in preventing weight gain. Public health authorities and health practitioners may need to make more quantitative recommendations and emphasize the importance of balancing physical activity with dietary intake to achieve successful weight control for women at this life stage.

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Acknowledgements

The research on which this paper is based was conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, The University of Newcastle and The University of Queensland. We are grateful to the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing for funding and to the women who provided the survey data. This study was also assisted by a research project grant provided by The University of Newcastle. We also acknowledge the assistance of Virginia Wheway and Angie Wood for parts of the statistical analysis and Donna Fegan for help with the literature search. This work was conducted through the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing at the University of Newcastle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia

    L Williams

  2. School of Humanities and Social Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia

    J Germov

  3. Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia

    A Young

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  1. L Williams
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Correspondence to L Williams.

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Williams, L., Germov, J. & Young, A. Preventing weight gain: a population cohort study of the nature and effectiveness of mid-age women's weight control practices. Int J Obes 31, 978–986 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803550

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