Context Although commercial weight loss programs provide treatment to millions of clients, their efficacy has not been evaluated in rigorous long-term trials. Objective To compare weight loss and health benefits achieved and maintained through self-help weight loss vs with a structured commercial program.

OBJECTIVE:To determine weight loss maintenance among participants in a commercial weight loss program (Weight Watchers) who had reached their goal weights 1 ± 5 y previously. DESIGN: A national sample (n 1002) was surveyed by phone to obtain demographic and weight-related information. An oversample (n 258) was recruited and weighed in person to develop a correction factor for self-reported weights in the national sample. RESULTS: Based on corrected weights, weight regain from 1 to 5 y following weight loss ranged between 31.5 and 76.5%. At 5 y, 19.4% were within 5 lb of goal weight, 42.6% maintained a loss of 5% or more, 18.8% maintained a loss of 10% or more, and 70.3% were below initial weight. CONCLUSIONS: These results are not directly comparable to those obtained in clinical settings because of differences in the populations studied. Nonetheless, they suggest that the long-term prognosis for weight maintenance among individuals who reach goal weight in at least one commercial program is better than that suggested by existing research.

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