Lifetime Weight Cycling and Central Fat Distribution in Females With Obesity: A Brief Report

Abstract

Weight cycling (WC) is a common phenomenon in patients with obesity, however, its consequence on body composition has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether multiple WC can negatively affect the latter, especially in terms of body fat distribution in female adults seeking treatment that are overweight or obese. Body composition was obtained using a segmental body composition analyser (MC-780MA, Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) in 125 adult females who had been referred to the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Beirut Arab University (Lebanon). WC was defined as intentional weight loss of ≥3 kg followed by involuntary weight regain of ≥3 kg, and participants were categorized as WC if they had experienced ≥2 cycles. Ninety of the 125 participants met the criteria for WC and displayed a higher total and trunk fat mass than those without WC. This was confirmed through linear regression analysis, showing that multiple WC were associated with increased fat mass (FM) by nearly 4.2 kg (β = 4.23, 95%CI: 0.81–7.65, p = 0.016)–2.4 kg in the trunk region (β = 2.35, 95%CI: 0.786–3.917, p = 0.004) when compared to the non-WC group, after adjusting for age and fat-free mass. In conclusion, multiple WC is associated with increased body fat, especially in the central region. Future studies are needed to examine the impact of this fat distribution on health outcomes in this phenotype of patients.

Weight Regain and Breast Cancer–Related Biomarkers Following an Exercise Intervention in Postmenopausal Women

“…Unfortunately, the data available suggest that approximately 80% of participants who achieve weight loss will experience approximately 50% weight regain within one year following the end of the intervention (13)(14)(15)(16). Regular physical activity participation and reduced energy and fat intake are important for long-term weight maintenance, influencing the relationship between postintervention weight regain and adverse health outcomes (17)(18)(19). The Women's Health Initiative Observational Study reported associations between weight gain and weight cycling (intentional weight loss and subsequent weight regain) with an increase in postmenopausal breast and endometrial cancer risk (20).…”

Impact of weight loss and weight gain trajectories on body composition in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort analysis

“…24 In addition, a study in 2020 of 125 women living with obesity found that self-reported weight cycling was associated with an increase in FM of about 4 kg. 25 Our study using objectively measured weight trajectories over 24 months adds to these self-reported studies and collectively challenges the hypothesis that the preferential preservation or recovery of FM with weight cycling is less applicable to those with overweight or obesity. Conventionally, the impact on FM and FFM with weight cycling has been explained by the 'fat overshoot' theory, based on the concept that the suppression of thermogenesis observed with energy restriction persists during weight regain, prioritizing the recovery of FM.…”

“…This study has notable strengths. In particular, the objective measure of FM and FFM over repeated annual cycles in a sample that was large enough to categorize into seven different weight loss and weight gain trajectories adds to previous smaller studies in those with overweight and obesity that have relied on self‐reported, or the generation of fewer categories meaning different trajectories were combined 23–25 . However, there are also limitations.…”

Development of an Easy-to-Use Prediction Equation for Body Fat Percentage Based on BMI in Overweight and Obese Lebanese Adults

“…A multi-frequency segmental body composition analyzer (MC-780MA, Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) was used to measure body composition based on three frequencies providing highly accurate, whole-body, and segmental measurements [25]. Participant age, gender, and height information were entered into the device [25]. Then, the participant was instructed to stand in a stable, barefoot position.…”

“…Separate readings for different body segment compositions were obtained. These readings were based on an algorithm incorporating impedance, age, and height to estimate total BF, fat-free mass (FFM), and total body water (TBW) [25].…”