Research

Mixed

Behavioral weight management programs (BWMPs) produce sustained improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic control) for at least 5 years after program end, despite significant weight regain.

If you participate in a structured weight loss program, expect your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar to improve significantly. Even if you regain some weight after the program ends, these health benefits will likely persist for at least five years. Do not be discouraged by partial weight regain; the metabolic improvements are durable.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Despite weight regain, BWMPs reduce cardiometabolic risk factors with effects lasting at least 5 years after program end and dwindling with weight regain.
Jamie Hartmann‐Boyce et al. · Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes · 2023

Why this rating

Large meta-analysis of 124 trials with median follow-up of 28 months, though heterogeneity exists.

Source

Long-Term Effect of Weight Regain Following Behavioral Weight Management Programs on Cardiometabolic Disease Incidence and Risk: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jamie Hartmann‐Boyce et al. · Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes · 2023

DOI 10.1161/circoutcomes.122.009348

Meta-analysis · 124 studiesCited 43×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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