Relationship between multiple weight cycles and early weight loss in patients with obesity: a longitudinal study

Purpose: To assess the relationship between multiple weight cycling (WC) and early weight loss (e-WL). Methods: Using a longitudinal prospective design conducted between May 2017 and November 2019, early weight loss was assessed at month 2 of a weight management programme in 100 adult participants with overweight or obesity, at the Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Beirut Arab University (Lebanon). Weight cycling was defined as intentional weight loss of ≥ 3 kg followed by involuntary weight regain of ≥ 3 kg and participants were then categorized as multiple WC if they had experienced ≥ 2 cycles. Results: Of the 100 participants with a median age of 34.90 (22.94–50.67) years and a median BMI of 35.25 (32.75–39.48) kg/m2, 75 met the criteria for WC and displayed a lower e-WL percentage than those without WC (4.69 ± 2.78% vs. 6.58 ± 2.80%; p = 0.006). Linear regression analysis showed that e-WL was lower by ≈ 2% (β = − 1.935; 95% CL − 3.221, − 0.648; p = 0.004) in the WC group compared to the non-WC group after adjusting for age, gender and baseline BMI. Conclusion: In a ‘real-world’ clinical setting, multiple WC decreases e-WL rates. New strategies could be adopted for these patients to improve this early clinical outcome, since e-WL predicts longer-term success. Level of evidence: III, prospective longitudinal study.