Exploring Gender Differences in a Randomized Trial of Weight Loss Maintenance

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore gender differences in reasons for losing weight, weight loss methods, and weight loss behaviors prior to and during a weight loss maintenance trial. This is a secondary analysis of data from a 24-month randomized controlled trial comparing Self-Directed or Guided phone-based weight loss maintenance interventions among adults who had intentionally lost ≥10% of their body weight in the year prior to enrollment. Participants reported their weight loss methods and reasons for recently losing weight at baseline. Dietary intake, physical activity, and dietary patterns were assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 months. Participants included 419 adults (18.4% men, age 47.0 ± 10.8, BMI 28.4 ± 5.0). Women were more likely than men to report having used an organized weight loss program during their weight loss (55.9% vs. 24.7%, p < .001) and to report improving personal esteem as a motivator (51.2% vs. 35.1%, p = .01). Men were more likely than women to report eating food from convenience stores at baseline (22.1% vs. 13.2%, p = .05) and throughout the study but otherwise reported similar meal patterns (ps > .05). Men reported higher energy intake than women while physical activity was similar. Although more men self-directed their initial weight loss and more women utilized organized weight loss programs, behaviors reported during weight loss maintenance were similar. Futures studies are needed to understand if these results generalize to other men who have successfully lost weight and are participants in other weight loss maintenance interventions.

Depression and obesity, data from a national administrative database study: Geographic evidence for an epidemiological overlap

“…Overweight males are less likely to see themselves as overweight than females in the same situation. Furthermore, other reports demonstrated than men are underrepresented in weight-loss programs [63]. In addition to a health perception bias, men see most weight loss programs as unattractive or designed for women’s needs [64].…”

Health and appearance reasons for weight loss as predictors of long-term weight change

“…As such, how well these findings generalize to other populations is unknown. There is some evidence that women are more likely to want to lose weight for appearance reasons compared to men (Crane et al, 2016; Tylka and Homan, 2015), and that younger adults may differ in the reasons for losing weight when compared to older adults (Lanoye et al, 2016; Rancourt et al, 2018). Although we propose some possible explanations for our findings, additional data are necessary to provide insight.…”

Effects of a Meal Replacement on Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters among Subjects with Overweight or Obesity

“…Men tend to lose weight faster, although both genders lose weight overall [21]. Also, men and women exhibit different attitudes and behaviors surrounding weight and weight management, which may contribute to variation in weight-loss program efficacy [22]. The gender differences in diet and body composition mentioned above, as well as many others, are likely to play a role in meal replacement processing and manifestation of clinically relevant health improvements, such as reductions in blood pressure, blood lipids, etc.…”

“…The gender differences in diet and body composition mentioned above, as well as many others, are likely to play a role in meal replacement processing and manifestation of clinically relevant health improvements, such as reductions in blood pressure, blood lipids, etc. Although many studies have addressed gender in weight loss, gender assessment in meal replacement trials is limited [22, 23].…”