Rate of Weight Loss Can Be Predicted by Patient Characteristics and Intervention Strategies

Abstract

Background Although dietary weight loss counseling usually employs a 500-1000 kcal/d energy deficit to induce weight loss of 0.5-1 kg/wk, this rate of weight loss is rarely achieved in research settings. Biological factors, such as changes in metabolic rate, are partly responsible but would account for a small deviation from expected weight loss. There must be other factors, behavioral or related to study design and implementation that affect the rate of weight loss observed. Objective To examine factors that influence the rate of weight loss obtained in clinical studies. Design Thirty-five weight loss studies published between 1995 and 2009 were identified that used dietary counseling to induce weight loss in healthy subjects. Studies were included if they had a duration of at least 6 wk, used a strategy to counsel subjects to reduce free-living energy intakes, and reported weight loss data based on a completers analysis. Variables that were associated with the rate of weight loss among age, gender (% female subjects), initial body weight, frequency of dietary counseling, placebo use, exercise level, study length, and prescribed energy deficit were examined using linear regression analysis. Results Study length was negatively related to the rate of weight loss (P<0.0001) whereas subject age (P<0.002), subject age squared (P=0.0073), initial body weight (P=0.0003), frequency of dietary counseling (P=0.0197), and prescribed energy deficit (P<0.0001) were positively related to the rate of weight loss observed in clinical studies. Conclusions These findings provide a tool for investigators and clinical dietitians to predict the rate of weight loss that can be expected within a population given the age, initial body weight, frequency of dietary counseling, and energy deficit prescription. These data, from clinical studies, suggest that the rate of weight loss is greater in older and heavier subjects and with higher contact frequency and caloric restriction.

Prevention of Incident Knee Osteoarthritis by Moderate Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Females

“…The first was to be expected, since a high BMI is a predictor for greater weight loss (39,40). Probably, the higher prevalence of knees with a history of injury in the weight loss group was also linked to BMI; baseline BMI was significantly higher in subjects with a previously injured knee than in subjects without, and a history of injury was shown to have a nonsignificant effect on all outcome measures when adjusted for BMI at baseline (data not shown).…”

Weight-Loss Strategies Used by the General Population: How Are They Perceived?

“…A major determinant of weight loss and weight maintenance is adherence to the diet,[23] which is dependent on the perception of and the conditions under which the diet is followed [24], [25]. However, the literature on these aspects of weight-loss practices is scarce.…”

Fatores determinantes de perda de peso em adultos submetidos a intervenções dietoterápicas

“…Finkler e cols. (18), em estudo de metanálise, buscaram estabelecer fatores relacionados à perda de peso no tratamento para obesidade. Esses autores demonstraram que idade, peso inicial, sexo e VCT foram associados à perda de peso.…”