Determinants of weight gain in young women: A review of the literature

Abstract

Abstract:Background: Young adult women (18-36 years) are gaining weight at rates higher than women in other age groups. Given its long term deleterious health effects, it is important to know the determinants of this weight gain. However, other than in relation to pregnancy, little is known about the determinants of weight gain in this population group.Method: Papers examining non-pregnancy weight gain in young women were identified through a literature search in PubMed in August 2008. Subsequently, reference lists of included papers were checked for additional eligible papers. Results: 29 papers were included in this review. They were grouped into five categories on the basis of the main identified determinant of weight gain: contraception (4); dietary behaviours (3); quitting smoking (1); physical activity (1) and university transition (20 papers). Study duration ranged from 13 days to 15 years. Weight was objectively measured in 25 studies and selfreported in 4 studies. 27 papers reported weight gain; the highest rates were observed with initial exposure to contraceptive use and the first semester of university.Conclusions: Even though young adulthood is a vulnerable time for weight gain in women, the number of studies examining specific determinants of weight gain was small.Those located identified five social and behavioural determinants, with most of the research focussing on the transition to and through university, and few studies in nonuniversity populations. More studies are needed to assess the concurrent contributions of multiple determinants of weight gain at this life-stage, so that appropriate interventions to prevent excess weight gain can be developed.

Developmental trajectories of disordered eating from early adolescence to young adulthood: A longitudinal study

“…Interestingly, steady increases in the cognitive symptoms corresponded with an increasing BMI of approximately 1 kg/m 2 every 3 years from age of 11 (BMI mean = 19.41 [SD = 3.76]) to age of 25 (BMI mean = 25.68 [SD = 6.02]). Importantly, this increase corroborates the previous findings from the GUTS cohorts and data showing that women in young adulthood gain weight at higher rates than females in other age groups . This rise in BMI might be one reason why concerns about body weight/shape continue to increase into young adulthood, whereas other symptoms (e.g., binge eating and purging) that may be less directly predicted by increases in BMI remain stable.…”

Employment patterns and changes in body weight among young women

“…Similar trends have been reported in the USA (Flegal et al, 2010) and Europe (Berg et al, 2005;Howel, 2010). Young adulthood is a particularly vulnerable time for weight gain among women (Wane et al, 2010). The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) reported that from 1996 to 2006, women aged mostly in their 20 s gained an average of 0.6 kg per year, which was 30% greater than the weight gained by middle-aged women (Adamson et al, 2007).…”

Facilitators and barriers to weight loss and weight loss maintenance: a qualitative exploration

“…Life transitions related to student status, employment, family structure and health status also were reported by women as critical periods that hindered weight management. Both young adulthood and mid‐life appear to be crucial intervals for weight gain (Ball et al ., ; Wane et al ., ), and life stress and significant life events also have been associated with weight gain (Elfhag & Rossner, ). Women perceived that their capacity for achieving and maintaining WL was lower than for men, consistent with evidence demonstrating that women are twice as likely as men to experience major weight gain over the life course (Williamson et al ., ).…”