Journal article
Age at dieting onset, body mass index, and dieting practices. A twin study
Appetite, Vol.71, pp.301-306
12/01/2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106919
PMCID: PMC3913472
PMID: 24025547
Abstract
•Nine-hundred and fifty adult female twins retrospectively reported age at first weight loss attempt.•Outcomes were self-reported adult BMI and dieting behaviors.•Early dieting was associated with higher adult BMI and more risky dieting behaviors.•These associations were not present in within-pair analyses.•Genetic/familial factors influence associations of early dieting with poor outcomes.
Objective: Using a twin study design, we sought to determine whether an early age at dieting onset is a risk factor for higher adult body mass index (BMI) or use of risky dieting practices, independent of genetic and familial factors. Method: Female twins ages 18–60years (N=950) from the University of Washington Twin Registry completed 2 surveys an average of 3years apart. Analyses of individual twins and within-twin pairs tested associations of self-reported age at dieting onset with (1) adult BMI at baseline, (2) change in BMI between the two surveys and (3) risky dieting behaviors at baseline. Results: In analyses mimicking studies of unrelated individuals, an earlier age at dieting onset was associated with greater adult BMI (p=0.003), higher Restraint Scale scores (p<0.001), greater use of risky dieting behaviors (p=0.04) and more weight cycling episodes (p<0.001). In within-pair models that control for genetic and familial factors, the only significant association was between an earlier age at dieting onset and more weight cycling episodes (p=0.006). Discussion: Underlying genetic and familial factors may influence associations of early dieting with higher adult BMIs and risky dieting practices in women.
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Details
- Title
- Age at dieting onset, body mass index, and dieting practices. A twin study
- Creators
- Erin Enriquez - Program in Nutritional Sciences, University of Washington, United StatesGlen E Duncan - Epidemiology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Washington, United StatesEllen A Schur - Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Box 359780, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
- Publication Details
- Appetite, Vol.71, pp.301-306
- Academic Unit
- Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Department of
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- DK070826 and R01 DK089036; R01AR051524; RC2HL103416 / NIH
- Identifiers
- 99900546895601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article