Lowe MR, et al. - In view of the significance of identifying predictors of increases in weight (or in fat mass) for understanding the genesis of obesity and for the design of prevention programs, researchers examined the predictive utility of 6 variables that have been predictive of weight gain in past research: depression, disinhibition, family history of overweight, body dissatisfaction, self-reported dieting and weight suppression (the difference between highest past and current weight). These variables as predictors of fat gain were tested two years later, in 294 female first-year students who were selected to have characteristics associated with future weight gain. Outcomes suggest only weight suppression to be the independent predictor of fat gain over two years.