Research
Adherence
Long-term weight loss maintenance is achieved through high levels of physical activity (approx. 11,210 kJ/week or ~6.5 km brisk walking/day) and dietary restraint, rather than physiological adaptation alone.
To maintain weight loss, you likely need to engage in high levels of physical activity (equivalent to ~6.5 km of brisk walking daily) combined with dietary restraint. This is not optional; it is the primary strategy used by long-term successful maintainers to counteract the weight-gaining modern environment.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
They report a very high level of physical activity (11 210 kJ week–1), the equivalent of walking briskly for about 6.5 km day–1. They also report that the effort required to maintain this level of activity is substantial. These individuals appear to be relying primarily on intellect, not instinct, for success.
Why this rating
Based on data from the National Weight Control Registry, a well-established observational cohort, though still observational.
Source
From instinct to intellect: the challenge of maintaining healthy weight in the modern world
Jodi Peters et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2002
narrative_reviewCited 187×
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