Adherence
Individuals with overweight or obesity who enroll in weight loss programs but receive no active intervention (minimal contact control) lose an average of approximately 1 kg over 12 months, contradicting the assumption that they would gain weight.
If you are struggling with weight, know that your motivation to change is a powerful tool in itself. Studies show that simply enrolling in a program, being weighed regularly, and receiving brief advice from a professional can lead to an average loss of about 1 kg in the first year, even without a strict diet or exercise plan. This baseline loss validates your effort and suggests that engagement is a critical first step.
In summary, uncontrolled evaluations of weight loss programs should assume that, in the absence of intervention, their population would weigh up to a kilogram less than baseline at 1-year follow-up.
Why this rating
Based on a meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials with 5,963 participants, providing robust observational evidence of the control group effect.
Source
Weight change among people randomized to minimal intervention control groups in weight loss trials
D.J. Johns et al. · Obesity · 2016
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