ObjectiveTo identify anthropometric and behavioral characteristics associated with 28 weight maintenance after an obesity treatment. 29Study design Seventy-two adolescents enrolled in a 9-month obesity treatment were 30 followed 1 and 2 years after discharge. Two equally distributed groups, "successful" vs. 31 "limited or no success", were constituted on the basis of the differences in BMI z-score 32 between inclusion and end of follow-up. Anthropometric and behavioral characteristics 33 were compared between groups. 34
ResultsBoth groups showed a decrease of BMI z-score between inclusion and 35 end of follow-up: 2.09±0.68 SD for the successful group and 0.65±0.43 SD for the 36 group with limited or no success. Groups did not differ during treatment for any of the 37 anthropometric characteristics considered, while differences clearly appeared 1 year 38 after treatment and generally stabilized during the second year. Later adiposity rebound, 39 trend for lower BMI in the mother, and lower total energy intake, more energy at 40 breakfast, less snacking and television during follow-up were recorded in the successful 41 group. 42
Conclusions 43Weight loss maintenance cannot be predicted neither by anthropometry during 44 treatment nor by behavioral characteristics at inclusion, but can already be estimated 45 1