Adherence
Achieving significant weight loss within the first six months of a dietary intervention is the primary predictor of long-term retention and success (loss of ≥5% body weight) over two years.
Your first six months are the most critical. If you lose a significant amount of weight early on, you are much more likely to stick with the program and succeed long-term. If you are struggling to lose weight in the first few months, seek extra support or adjust expectations, as this is the biggest risk factor for dropping out.
In a multivariate model, greater weight loss achieved at month-6 was the main predictor associated with success in weight loss (≥ 5%) over 2 years (OR = 1.5; CI: 1.35–1.67).
Why this rating
Randomized Controlled Trial with large sample size (n=322) and long duration (2 years), though adherence was partly self-reported.
Source
Adherence and Success in Long-Term Weight Loss Diets: The Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT)
Ilana Greenberg et al. · Journal of the American College of Nutrition · 2009
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