Adherence
Extended care (ongoing therapist contact via in-person or telephone) significantly improves long-term weight loss maintenance compared to no-contact or educational controls.
To keep weight off long-term, you need ongoing support, not just an initial diet plan. Engage in 'extended care'—regular check-ins (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) with a coach or group, either in person or by phone. This support helps you solve problems and stay motivated, preventing the common trap of regaining lost weight.
The average effect of extended care on weight loss maintenance was g = 0.385 (95% confidence interval: 0.281, 0.489; P < 0.0001). This effect would lead to the maintenance of an additional 3.2 kg weight loss over 17.6 months post-intervention in participants provided extended care compared with control.
Why this rating
Meta-analysis of 11 RCTs with moderate effect size, though limited by small number of studies and lack of blinding.
Source
The impact of extended care on the long‐term maintenance of weight loss: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
K. M. Ross Middleton et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2011
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 →