Individual weigh-ins and group sessions led to the least amount of weight gain.
All too often, dieters regain the weight they've lost. In this trial from Brown University, researchers compared three strategies for maintaining weight loss in 314 people who recently had lost an average of 19 kg through commercial weight loss groups, individual approaches, and exercise.
Study participants were assigned randomly to a face-to-face intervention, an internet intervention, or a control group. The face-to-face intervention included individual weigh-ins and group sessions (weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly); the internet intervention had similar content, except that weights were self-reported on a website and group sessions were conducted in a chat room; the control group received a quarterly newsletter with diet and exercise information. Participants in both intervention groups were expected to weigh themselves daily and to implement specified strategies in response to weight gain.
At 18 months, mean weight gain in the face-to-face group was less than that in the internet or control group (2.5 vs. 4.7 and 4.9 kg). The proportion of patients who regained 2.3 kg or more was significantly lower in each of the intervention groups than in the control group (46% and 55% vs. 72%).
Comment: In this study of strategies to prevent successful dieters from regaining lost weight, an intervention with both a home-based component and monthly face-to-face group meetings was superior to a control intervention; an internet-based intervention yielded intermediate results. Not surprisingly, the most labor-intensive strategy was the most successful.
— Allan S. Brett, MD
Published in Journal Watch October 11, 2006
Citation(s):
Wing RR et al. A self-regulation program for maintenance of weight loss. N Engl J Med 2006 Oct 12; 355:1563-71.