Adherence
Successful long-term weight loss maintenance is associated with higher initial weight loss, reaching a self-determined goal weight, maintaining a physically active lifestyle, and adhering to a regular meal rhythm including breakfast.
To maintain weight loss, aim for a significant initial drop, set and reach your own realistic weight goal, stay physically active, eat regular meals (especially breakfast), and monitor your intake. Avoid rigid 'all or nothing' dieting; instead, practice flexible control.
According to our review, successful weight maintenance is associated with more initial weight loss, reaching a self-determined goal weight, having a physically active lifestyle, a regular meal rhythm including breakfast and healthier eating, control of over-eating and self-monitoring of behaviours.
Why this rating
This is a conceptual review of observational and clinical studies, not a single RCT, so evidence is moderate.
Source
Who succeeds in maintaining weight loss? A conceptual review of factors associated with weight loss maintenance and weight regain
Kristina Elfhag et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2005
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2005.00170.x
More from this paper
- Psychological factors including internal motivation, self-efficacy, effective coping strategies, and an internal locus of control are positively associated with weight loss maintenance.Moderate
- Risk factors for weight regain include a history of weight cycling, disinhibited eating, binge eating, high hunger, eating in response to negative emotions, and passive coping strategies.Moderate
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 →