Low bone mass in premenopausal chronic dieting obese women

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 966 - 971
• Main Authors: Bacon, L, Stern, J.S, Keim, N.L, Van Loan, M.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.06.2004; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical materials; Body Composition; Body weight; Body weight loss; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density; Bone mass; bone mineral content; Bone mineral density; Bone turnover; Bones; C-reactive protein; Calcium; Calcium metabolism; Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage; chronic dieting; Cognitive ability; Constraints; Cortisol; Diet; Diet, Reducing - adverse effects; Dietary intake; dieting; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Eating; Eating - physiology; Eating behavior; Energy expenditure; Estrogens; Exercise - physiology; Female; Femur; Femur - metabolism; Femur - pathology; Food intake; Humans; Inflammation; Lumbar Vertebrae - metabolism; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity - therapy; Osteopenia; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - epidemiology; Osteoporosis - etiology; Osteoporosis - prevention & control; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Parathyroid; Parathyroid hormone; Physical activity; premenopausal women; Premenopause; risk factors; Spine; Spine (lumbar); Weight loss; Women; USA, California, Davis; Human; Obesity; Body weight; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Nutrition disorder; Estrogen; restrained eating; Glucocorticoid; Ovarian hormone; Feeding; Osteoarticular system; Osteoporosis; Chronic; Bone mass; Diet; Adrenal hormone; Risk factor; Female; Bone mineral density; Bone; Sex steroid hormone; Public health; Nutritional status; Osteopenia
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601922

Background: Obese premenopausal women are thought to be at low risk for osteoporosis due to increased body weight and effects of estrogen on weight-bearing bone. Objective: To examine the effect of restrained eating on obese women, we examined bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) of the spine and femur in obese women who were restrained eaters, with emphasis on the relationship between BMC and determinants of bone mass, and current eating behaviors, dietary intake, physical activity, and indices of calcium regulation, bone metabolism, stress and inflammation. Design: A total of 78 obese, Caucasian, female, restrained eaters, ages 30-45 y, were enrolled in a weight lose program. Height, weight, bone turnover markers, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), cortisol, c-reactive protein (CRP), dietary intake, eating behaviors, physical activity, and BMD and BMC were measured. Setting: This study was conducted at the University of California, in Davis, CA, USA. Results: In all, 31% of women had osteopenia or osteoporosis (OSTEO). In the OSTEO group, 87.5% of women had osteoporosis or osteopenia of the lumbar spine and 12.5% of the women had osteoporosis or osteopenia in femur. A significant positive correlation between BMC and energy expenditure (r=0.256), and a significant negative correlation between BMC and number of times on a weight loss diet (r=-0.250) and cognitive restraint (r=-0.239) were observed. No significant differences were observed between OSTEO women and nonosteoporotic women for current eating behaviors, dietary intake, physical activity habits, bone turnover, calcium regulation, stress, or inflammation. Conclusions: Obese restrained eaters are at risk for low bone mass. Prior dieting may be responsible. Chronic dieters should be encouraged to decrease their dietary restraint, develop healthy eating habits and increase physical activity.