Methodological issues in weight cycling.

Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine
G CutterK D Brownell

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that weight changes may be related to disease risk independent of weight status. A critical step in testing this assertion is the measurement of weight change and so-called "weight cycling". However intuitive the concept of weight cycling may appear, research in this area is hampered by complex methodological issues. This article discusses various measures of nominal weight cycling, including the standard deviation, coefficient of variation, regression techniques, and cycles. A cycle is a sequence of a gain followed by a loss or vice versa. The various measures are compared in seven hypothetical cases created to illustrate their strengths and weaknesses. Superior performance of the cycles measure over the coefficient of variation, number of fluctuations, and simple regression methods is argued. The linkage of the cycles measure with the statistical theory of runs also provides a basis for testing the significance of weight fluctuations or other variables that may cycle, such as blood lipids, etc. The cycles measure and runs test provide a viable definition for identifying weight cycling and a tool for evaluating the critical amount of weight gained and/or lost in relationship to risk.

References

Jun 27, 1991·The New England Journal of Medicine·L LissnerK D Brownell
Jul 1, 1991·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·M M ManoreS S Carroll
Sep 1, 1989·Physiology & Behavior·C M ArchambaultM J Mariotto
May 1, 1989·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·W H Saris
May 1, 1989·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·G L BlackburnK D Brownell
Mar 1, 1988·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·D S GrayG A Bray
Jan 1, 1988·Physiology & Behavior·D R ReedJ Rodin
Oct 1, 1986·Physiology & Behavior·K D BrownellE E Shrager
Mar 1, 1974·Journal of Chronic Diseases·F W Ashley, W B Kannel
Jan 1, 1983·Behaviour Research and Therapy·F A Blanchard, R O Frost
Oct 1, 1993·Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia·W G Phillips

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 6, 2004·Eating Behaviors·M M Clark, T K King
May 29, 2013·BMC Public Health·Laurie-anne MarquetFrançois-Denis Desgorces
Apr 17, 2014·Journal of Obesity·Christiaan G AbildsoSean J Fitzpatrick
Sep 30, 2014·Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·T MehtaK Casazza
Jun 4, 2004·Journal of the American Dietetic Association·Linda NebelingRachel Ballard-Barbash
Oct 11, 2011·Cancer Prevention Research·Henry J Thompson, Anne McTiernan
Jun 27, 2021·Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases : NMCD·Eline VermeirenKim Van Hoorenbeeck

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.