Adherence
A 4-year comprehensive behavioral and dietary support program achieves significant long-term weight loss maintenance (mean 3.3 kg loss at 8 years) in obese patients, whereas noncompleters experience significant weight regain.
To maintain weight loss long-term, you need a structured program that includes both a calorie-controlled diet and regular behavioral support (like counseling or coaching). The study shows that sticking with this support for about 4 years leads to significant weight loss maintenance (average 3.3 kg loss at 8 years). Simply losing weight quickly with a crash diet is not enough; you must engage in active, long-term behavioral strategies and attend regular check-ins to prevent weight regain.
The completers (n = 55) had maintained a weight loss of 3.3 ± 10.7 kg (P < 0.05) 8 years after randomization. After 6 years, the noncompleters (n = 58) had gained 3.2 ± 9.7 kg compared with baseline (P < 0.05).
Why this rating
Randomized clinical trial with long-term follow-up, though limited by drop-out rates and small sample size (n=113).
Source
A dietary and behavioural programme for the treatment of obesity. A 4‐year clinical trial and a long‐term posttreatment follow‐up
H Lantz et al. · Journal of Internal Medicine · 2003
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