Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Weight Gain

Weight gain is an increase in body mass resulting from a positive energy balance, in which energy intake exceeds expenditure, leading to the accumulation of adipose tissue and, in some contexts, lean mass. While appropriate weight gain is desirable in undernutrition, pregnancy, recovery, and the building of skeletal…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 40× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2379-7835

Overview

Weight gain is an increase in body mass resulting from a positive energy balance, in which energy intake exceeds expenditure, leading to the accumulation of adipose tissue and, in some contexts, lean mass. While appropriate weight gain is desirable in undernutrition, pregnancy, recovery, and the building of skeletal muscle, excessive gain progressing to overweight and obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. Its determinants include dietary composition and energy density, physical activity, metabolic and hormonal regulation, early-life and developmental factors, and socioeconomic and behavioural influences. Nutrition research examines both ends of the spectrum: dietary and supplemental strategies to promote healthy weight gain in conditions such as severe acute malnutrition and anorexia nervosa, the effects of macronutrient composition, including high-fat and high-protein diets, on body weight and skeletal-muscle hypertrophy, and the prevention of excessive gain through diet quality, physical activity, and education. Studies also address early determinants such as birth weight and macrosomia, and links between weight, diabetes control, and cardiometabolic outcomes. Understanding the drivers of weight change informs prevention and management. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research on energy balance, weight regulation, and dietary influences on weight gain and body composition.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 40 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Nov 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Weight Gain, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Nutrition (ISSN 2379-7835).

Journal editorial board
Christopher Ochner · United States Alicja Kuban-Jankowska · Poland Angel Catala · Argentina

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.