Weight management behaviours mediate the relationship between weight cycling, BMI and diet quality among US Army Soldiers

Weight cycling is prevalent in sports/professions with body composition standards, and has been associated with weight management behaviours that may contribute to suboptimal diet quality and weight gain. US Army Soldiers may be at increased risk of weight cycling relative to civilians due to mandated body composition standards. However, the relationship between weight cycling, weight management behaviours, BMI and diet quality among Soldiers is unknown. In this cross-sectional study, 575 Soldiers (89 % enlisted, 90 % male, 23 +/- 4 years) at Army installations at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, Joint-Base Lewis McChord, WA, and Fort Campbell, KY completed questionnaires on food frequency, health-related behaviours and history of weight cycling (>= 3 weight fluctuations >= 5 % body weight). Weight cycling was reported by 33 % of Soldiers. Those who reported weight cycling reported higher BMI (27 +/- 4 v. 25 +/- 3 kg/m(2), P < 0 center dot 001) and higher prevalence of engaging in weight management behaviours prior to body weight screening but did not report lower dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) scores 59 +/- 10 v 59 +/- 11, P = 0 center dot 46) relative to those who did not report weight cycling. Results of mediation analyses suggested that weight cycling may affect BMI both directly (c' = 1 center dot 19, 95 % CI: 0 center dot 62, 1 center dot 75) and indirectly (ab = 0 center dot 45, 95 % CI: 0 center dot 19, 0 center dot 75), and HEI scores indirectly (ab = 0 center dot 69, 95 % CI: 0 center dot 20, 1 center dot 35) through the adoption of weight management behaviours. Weight cycling is common in Soldiers and is associated with higher BMI and higher prevalence of engaging in weight management behaviours that mediate associations between weight cycling, BMI and diet quality.