Research
Mixed
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.
If you are a woman who has experienced weight cycling, be aware that it may lead to increased abdominal fat (higher waist-hip ratio), which is a risk factor for heart disease. Focus on maintaining a healthy weight and body composition.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Studies with a better measure of cycling suggest the possibility of fat redistribution... Rodin et al studied premenopausal women and found that WHR was associated with a higher degree of weight cycling
Why this rating
Based on several studies, but results are mixed (some show no difference, others show increased WHR).
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 is associated with increased psychopathology, lower life satisfaction, and a higher risk of binge eating and disturbed eating practices.Moderate
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →