Research

Mixed

An intensive weight loss intervention combining total diet replacements (TDR), behavioral support, and weight loss medications (WLM) as needed achieves and maintains ≥20% weight loss in adults with obesity class I or II, significantly outperforming usual care.

To achieve significant weight loss (≥20%), you need a structured, long-term (2-year) program that combines strict initial calorie restriction (via meal replacements), regular coaching, and physical activity. If you don't lose enough weight in the first month, the program adds medication support. This is more intensive than typical 'eat less, move more' advice, which usually results in minimal weight loss.

WeakSupportsVERY_LOW confidence
The IWL programme aims to achieve and maintain a weight loss of ≥20% through a flexible and individualised combination of TDR, behavioural support, including physical activity and sleep guidance, and WLM if needed and will continue for 2 years.
Sofus C. Larsen et al. · BMJ Open · 2025

Why this rating

This is a protocol for a randomized clinical trial; no results are reported yet, so evidence of efficacy is currently non-existent (pre-study).

Source

Intensive weight loss intervention versus usual care in adults with obesity: a protocol for the LightCARE randomised clinical trial

Sofus C. Larsen et al. · BMJ Open · 2025

DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-107155

rct · n=400Cited 1×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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