Adherence
Referral to a commercial weight loss program (Weight Watchers) for 12 months yields significantly greater weight loss than a 12-week referral, with the difference attributed to the extended duration of intervention rather than intensity.
If you are overweight, a one-year commercial weight loss program (like Weight Watchers) is likely to help you lose more weight than a three-month program, because the extended support helps you maintain the changes. The key is sticking with the weekly meetings for the full year.
This trial will specifically examine whether providing longer weight-loss treatment without altering content or intensity (12 months commercial referral vs. 12 weeks) leads to greater weight loss at one year and is sustained at 2 years.
Why this rating
This is a study protocol for an RCT; results are not yet available, so evidence is currently 'pending' or 'protocol-defined'.
Source
Weight loss referrals for adults in primary care (WRAP): protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of primary care referral to a commercial weight loss provider for 12 weeks, referral for 52 weeks, and a brief self-help intervention [ISRCTN82857232]
Amy L. Ahern et al. · BMC Public Health · 2014
DOI 10.1186/1471-2458-14-620
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →