Research
Adherence
Weight cycling is associated with increased psychopathology, lower life satisfaction, and a higher risk of binge eating and disturbed eating practices.
Be aware that repeated dieting can lead to psychological distress and binge eating. If you find yourself cycling, consider focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than extreme diets to protect your mental health.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Weight cycling may also have negative psychological and behavioral consequences; studies have reported increased risk for psychopathology, life dissatisfaction, and binge eating.
Why this rating
Based on multiple studies, but some findings are mixed (e.g., one study showed no relationship between previous weight fluctuation and binge eating).
Source
Medical, Metabolic, and Psychological Effects of Weight Cycling
Kelly D. Brownell · Archives of Internal Medicine · 1994
DOI 10.1001/archinte.1994.00420120035004
narrative_reviewCited 218×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Weight cycling (repeated weight loss and regain) is associated with a 1.25 to 2.00 relative risk increase in all-cause mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality compared to stable weight.Good
- Weight cycling may alter body fat distribution, specifically increasing the waist-hip ratio (WHR) in women, which is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.Moderate
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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