Erica L Goodman1,2, Jessica H Baker2, Christine M Peat2,3, Zeynep Yilmaz2, Cynthia M Bulik2,4,5, Hunna J Watson2,6,7. 1. Department of Psychology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 4. Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 5. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. 7. School of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Weight suppression (WS), the difference between highest past non-pregnancy weight and current weight, predicts negative outcomes in eating disorders, but the impact of WS and related weight constructs are understudied in nonclinical, midlife populations. We examined WS (current weight < highest weight) and weight elevation (WE), the opposite of WS (current weight > lowest weight) and their associations with eating psychopathology in women aged 50+. METHOD: Participants were a community-based sample (N = 1,776, Mage = 59) who completed demographic and eating psychopathology questions via online survey. WS, WE, and WS × WE were tested as predictors of outcome variables; BMI and medical conditions that affect weight were controlled for. RESULTS: Individuals that were higher on WS and WE were most likely to engage in current weight loss attempts, dieting in the past 5 years, and extreme lifetime restriction. Individuals with higher WS were more likely to experience binge eating, greater frequency of weight checking, overvaluation of shape and weight, and lifetime fasting. Individuals with higher WE were more likely to report negative life impacts of eating and dieting. Higher WS and WE each predicted higher levels of skipping meals over the lifetime. DISCUSSION: This novel study investigated WS in midlife women and introduced a new conceptualization of weight change (WE) that may be more relevant for aging populations given that women tend to gain weight with age. The findings implicate the utility of investigating both WS and WE as factors associated with eating psychopathology in midlife women.
OBJECTIVE: Weight suppression (WS), the difference between highest past non-pregnancy weight and current weight, predicts negative outcomes in eating disorders, but the impact of WS and related weight constructs are understudied in nonclinical, midlife populations. We examined WS (current weight < highest weight) and weight elevation (WE), the opposite of WS (current weight > lowest weight) and their associations with eating psychopathology in women aged 50+. METHOD:Participants were a community-based sample (N = 1,776, Mage = 59) who completed demographic and eating psychopathology questions via online survey. WS, WE, and WS × WE were tested as predictors of outcome variables; BMI and medical conditions that affect weight were controlled for. RESULTS: Individuals that were higher on WS and WE were most likely to engage in current weight loss attempts, dieting in the past 5 years, and extreme lifetime restriction. Individuals with higher WS were more likely to experience binge eating, greater frequency of weight checking, overvaluation of shape and weight, and lifetime fasting. Individuals with higher WE were more likely to report negative life impacts of eating and dieting. Higher WS and WE each predicted higher levels of skipping meals over the lifetime. DISCUSSION: This novel study investigated WS in midlife women and introduced a new conceptualization of weight change (WE) that may be more relevant for aging populations given that women tend to gain weight with age. The findings implicate the utility of investigating both WS and WE as factors associated with eating psychopathology in midlife women.
Authors: Danielle A Gagne; Ann Von Holle; Kimberly A Brownley; Cristin D Runfola; Sara Hofmeier; Kateland E Branch; Cynthia M Bulik Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2012-06-21 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Sara M Hofmeier; Cristin D Runfola; Margarita Sala; Danielle A Gagne; Kimberly A Brownley; Cynthia M Bulik Journal: J Women Aging Date: 2016-07-11
Authors: Maria I Lapid; Maria C Prom; M Caroline Burton; Donald E McAlpine; Bruce Sutor; Teresa A Rummans Journal: Int Psychogeriatr Date: 2010-02-22 Impact factor: 3.878