Tatjana van Strien1, Hanna M Konttinen2, Machteld A Ouwens3, Floris A van de Laar4, Laura H H Winkens5. 1. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: t.vanstrien@psych.ru.nl. 2. Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: hanna.konttinen@helsinki.fi. 3. GGzBreburg, PersonaCura, Tilburg, the Netherlands and Tranzo, Tilburg University, the Netherlands. Electronic address: machteldouwens@gmail.com. 4. Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: Floris.vandeLaar@radboudumc.nl. 5. Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles Chair Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: laura.winkens@wur.nl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Dieting to control body weight is often associated with weight gain, particularly so in women; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In a series of studies on women, we examined whether the relationship between dieting and weight gain can be explained by (serial) mediation of emotional eating (EE) and/or subsequent external eating (EX). METHODS: In a pilot study (116 women), we first assessed this (serial) mediation between dieting or dietary restraint and actual food consumption in the laboratory. In Study 1, a four-year follow up on patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (51 women), we assessed this (serial) mediation between dietary restraint and change in BMI and intake of energy (Kcal; Food Frequency Questionnaire). In Study 2, a three-year follow up study in a representative Dutch sample (287 women), we assessed this (serial) mediation between dieting and change in BMI. RESULTS: There was consistent support for (serial) mediation: In the pilot study, frequency of dieting and dietary restraint were both indirectly associated with grams of crackers eaten through EE and EX. In study 1, dietary restraint had a significant (95% CI) indirect association with subsequent change in measured BMI and a marginally (90% CI) significant indirect association with intake of energy through EE and EX. In study 2, EE marginally (90% CI) acted as a mediator between frequency of dieting and subsequent self-reported change in BMI. In the subsample of overweight women (n = 146) frequency of dieting was indirectly associated with subsequent self-reported change in BMI through EE and EX. CONCLUSION: The possibility that female dieters may gain weight through EE and/or subsequent EX should be taken into account when treating women with overweight or obesity.
OBJECTIVE: Dieting to control body weight is often associated with weight gain, particularly so in women; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In a series of studies on women, we examined whether the relationship between dieting and weight gain can be explained by (serial) mediation of emotional eating (EE) and/or subsequent external eating (EX). METHODS: In a pilot study (116 women), we first assessed this (serial) mediation between dieting or dietary restraint and actual food consumption in the laboratory. In Study 1, a four-year follow up on patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (51 women), we assessed this (serial) mediation between dietary restraint and change in BMI and intake of energy (Kcal; Food Frequency Questionnaire). In Study 2, a three-year follow up study in a representative Dutch sample (287 women), we assessed this (serial) mediation between dieting and change in BMI. RESULTS: There was consistent support for (serial) mediation: In the pilot study, frequency of dieting and dietary restraint were both indirectly associated with grams of crackers eaten through EE and EX. In study 1, dietary restraint had a significant (95% CI) indirect association with subsequent change in measured BMI and a marginally (90% CI) significant indirect association with intake of energy through EE and EX. In study 2, EE marginally (90% CI) acted as a mediator between frequency of dieting and subsequent self-reported change in BMI. In the subsample of overweightwomen (n = 146) frequency of dieting was indirectly associated with subsequent self-reported change in BMI through EE and EX. CONCLUSION: The possibility that female dieters may gain weight through EE and/or subsequent EX should be taken into account when treating women with overweight or obesity.
Authors: Chen Du; Mary Adjepong; Megan Chong Hueh Zan; Min Jung Cho; Jenifer I Fenton; Pao Ying Hsiao; Laura Keaver; Heesoon Lee; Mary-Jon Ludy; Wan Shen; Winnie Chee Siew Swee; Jyothi Thrivikraman; Felicity Amoah-Agyei; Emilie de Kanter; Wenyan Wang; Robin M Tucker Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-02-28 Impact factor: 5.717