Behavioral strategies of individuals who have maintained long-term weight losses.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to compare the behaviors of individuals who have achieved long-term weight loss maintenance with those of regainers and weight-stable controls.


METHODS
Subjects for the present study were participants in a random-digit dial telephone survey that used a representative sample of the U.S. adult population. Eating, exercise, self-weighing, and dietary restraint characteristics were compared among weight-loss maintainers: individuals who had intentionally lost > or =10% of their weight and maintained it for > or = 1 year (n = 69), weight-loss regainers: individuals who intentionally lost > or = 10% of their weight but had not maintained it (n = 56), and weight-stable controls: individuals who had never lost > or = 10% of their maximum weight and had maintained their current weight (+/-10 pounds) within the past 5 years (n = 113).


RESULTS
Weight-loss maintainers had lost an average of 37 pounds and maintained it for over 7 years. These individuals reported that they currently used more behavioral strategies to control dietary fat intake, have higher levels of physical activity (especially strenuous activity), and greater frequency of self-weighing than either the weight-loss regainers or weight-stable controls. Maintainers and regainers did not differ in reported levels of dietary restraint, but both had higher levels of restraint than the weight-stable controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that weight-loss maintainers use more behavioral strategies to control their weight than either regainers or weight-stable controls. It would thus appear that long-term weight maintenance requires ongoing adherence to a low-fat diet and an exercise regimen in addition to continued attention to body weight.
McGuire
M T
MT
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA. zie4@cdc.gov
Wing
R R
RR
Klem
M L
ML
Hill
J O
JO
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss