HISTORY OF INTENTIONAL AND UNINTENTIONAL WEIGHT-LOSS IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF WOMEN AGED 55 TO 69 YEARS

Although both overweight and body weight fluctuation are related to ch ronic disease risk, little is known about the history of and reasons f or body weight change in the general population. This paper reports th e incidence of intentional and unintentional weight loss episodes duri ng adulthood in a population-based sample of 26,261 women aged 55 to 6 9 years. Intentional weight loss episodes of each of four amounts (5-9 , 10-19, 20-49, 50+ lbs.) and unintentional weight loss episodes of 20 or more lbs, were recalled for each of three age periods (18-39, 40-5 4, 55+ years). At least one intentional weight loss episode of 5 or mo re lbs, was reported by, 69% of women, 46% reported at least one inten tional weight loss episode of 10 or more lbs, and 25% reported at leas t one intentional weight loss episode 20 or more lbs. At least one uni ntentional weight loss episode of 20 or more lbs. was reported by 29% of the women. Reasons for weight losses of 20 or more Ibs. were also r ecalled. Women who had intentionally lost 20 or more lbs. were more li kely to report weight losses due to low-calorie diets, exercise and we ight loss groups, while women who had unintentionally lost 20 or more lbs, were more likely to report weight losses due to depression or str ess. These findings question the common assumption that weight losses in adult women are primarily intentional and emphasize the need to dis tinguish the reasons for weight loss in studies examining the relation ship between body weight changes and health outcomes.