title: Leisure-time activity is an important determinant of long-term weight maintenance after weight loss in the Sibutramine Trial on Obesity Reduction and Maintenance (STORM trial).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The success rate of long-term maintenance of weight loss in obese patients is usually low. To improve the success rate, determinants of long-term weight maintenance must be identified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to identify determinants of long-term success in weight maintenance in obese subjects who completed the Sibutramine Trial on Obesity Reduction and Maintenance (n = 261), a multicenter European study of weight loss and weight maintenance in obesity that combines sibutramine treatment with dietary restriction and advice on exercise and behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied weight maintenance over 18 mo in subjects who had completed a 6-mo weight-loss phase. Factors included in the analysis were initial body weight, the percentage of initial body weight lost, dietary intake, various components of physical activity (measured with the Baecke questionnaire), the type of treatment (sibutramine or placebo), age, and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analysis identified treatment group (sibutramine or placebo), the percentage of the initial body weight that was lost during the 6-mo weight-loss phase, and the leisure-time physical activity index as significant determinants of weight maintenance. Together, these 3 factors explained 20% of the variation in weight maintenance (P < 0.001). Dietary factors, age, and sex were not significant predictors of weight-maintenance success in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight-maintenance success after weight loss is positively influenced by sibutramine treatment during weight maintenance, by a greater initial weight loss, and by a higher leisure-time physical activity index, which reflects higher levels of activities such as walking and cycling and lower levels of television viewing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. m.vanbaak@hb.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Marleen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Baak
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Mil
authors.forename: Arne V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Astrup
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finer
authors.forename: Luc F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Van Gaal
authors.forename: Jannik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilsted
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kopelman
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rössner
authors.forename: W Philip
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Wim H M
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Saris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D003503:Cyclobutanes; C058254:sibutramine