A randomized clinical trial of a weight loss maintenance intervention in a primary care population

Abstract

Objective: In-person weight loss maintenance visits have been shown to reduce weight regain after initial weight loss. This study examined, in a primary care population, whether in-person visits plus portion-controlled meals were more effective in reducing 12-month weight regain than mailed materials plus portioncontrolled meals. Methods: Study participants (n 5 106) received 6 months of intensive behavioral treatment. Participants who completed this phase (n 5 84) were then randomized to continue monthly in-person visits for weight loss maintenance as well as telephone calls between visits ("intensified maintenance") or to receive materials by mail ("standard maintenance"). All participants had access to subsidized portion-controlled foods during the 6-month run-in and the 12 months of maintenance. The primary outcome was weight change during the 12 months after randomization. Results: During months 0-12 after randomization, individuals assigned to standard maintenance regained 5.3% 6 0.8% of body weight, while those assigned to intensified maintenance regained 1.6% 6 1.2% of body weight. The difference between groups (3.7% 6 1.4%) was statistically significant (P 5 0.01).

Maintenance interventions for overweight or obesity in children: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…In adults, Tsai et al . showed that continued in‐person visits during the weight loss maintenance phase led to greater weight loss than contact by mail. Focus groups among children to study what strategies would be helpful in facilitating maintenance of weight loss post‐intervention brought forward that maintenance intervention contacts should be scheduled, personalized rather than automated, and with a familiar member of the intervention team .…”

Short‐ and Long‐Term Changes in Health‐Related Quality of Life with Weight Loss: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Patients typically do not report additional improvements in HRQOL when acute weight loss ends, after approximately 6 to 9 months, and weight loss maintenance (WLM) begins. Maintaining weight loss is widely known to be less innately rewarding than losing weight . Moreover, following completion of a high‐intensity lifestyle intervention, individuals with obesity are vulnerable to weight regain, which may be associated with deterioration in HRQOL (and cardiovascular disease risk factors) .…”

Exploring Gender Differences in a Randomized Trial of Weight Loss Maintenance

“…Several trials have demonstrated the efficacy of interventions explicitly designed to improve weight loss maintenance ( Jakicic, Marcus, Lang, & Janney, 2008 ; Perri et al, 2001 ; Perri et al, 2008 ; Svetkey et al, 2008 ; A. G. Tsai, Felton, Wadden, Hosokawa, & Hill, 2015 ; Wing, Tate, Gorin, Raynor, & Fava, 2006 ). Most weight loss maintenance trials to date have included a weight loss program first followed by a testing weight loss maintenance intervention(s).…”

“…Several trials have demonstrated the efficacy of interventions explicitly designed to improve weight loss maintenance (Jakicic, Marcus, Lang, & Janney, 2008; Perri et al, 2001; Perri et al, 2008; Svetkey et al, 2008; A. G. Tsai, Felton, Wadden, Hosokawa, & Hill, 2015; Wing, Tate, Gorin, Raynor, & Fava, 2006).…”