Energy intake highs and lows: how much does consistency matter in weight control?

Abstract

Summary Behavioural weight control programmes recommend adherence to daily energy intake goals, yet also allow for flexibility in intake across days. Evidence is lacking as to whether intake consistency is important for weight control. The current study explored the relation between day-to-day intake consistency and weight loss in the context of behavioural weight loss treatment and examined the relationship between variability in intake and several factors known to be associated with weight control success. Participants (N = 283) enrolled in a 12-month behavioural weight loss programme completed 24-h recalls of dietary intake and psychological measures. At the end of treatment, low intake variability and greater weight loss were associated, but variability was not predictive of weight loss independent of mean intake in continuous analyses. Interestingly, participants who met the programme goal of ≥10% weight loss had less intake variability compared to those who lost <10%, although groups did not differ significantly on mean intake. Results suggest that daily intake consistency may facilitate successful weight loss for some. Additionally, autonomous motivation for weight management and cognitive dietary restraint were inversely related to end-of-treatment intake variability. Additional research is needed to examine whether recommendations to limit intake variability during behavioural weight loss treatment improve long-term weight control.

Dietary Behaviour Is Associated with Cardiometabolic and Psychological Risk Indicators in Female Hospital Nurses—A Post-Hoc, Cross-Sectional Study

“…Further, the emerging literature suggests that particular dietary behaviours are associated with reduced cardiometabolic and psychological health. High snacking frequencies, a diminished fasting period and large day-to-day energy intake variability have been linked with weight gain [13], increased percent body fat [14], obesity [15,16,17], central obesity [18], decreased stress resistance [19] and increased risk of psychiatric disorders [20].…”

Hair Cortisol Concentration, Weight Loss Maintenance and Body Weight Variability: A Prospective Study Based on Data From the European NoHoW Trial

“…In addition to an association between perceived stress and weight regain, some studies have shown tendency towards irregular eating patterns among individuals reporting higher levels of stress, an eating behaviour referred to as 'stress eating' (13)(14)(15). This could theoretically lead to a higher degree of fluctuation in caloric intake and thereby promote a higher body weight variability (BWV), which by itself has been suggested as a predictor of future weight gain (16)(17)(18).…”