Sustainability of health and lifestyle improvements following a non-dieting randomised trial in overweight women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare three non-dieting interventions that focused on lifestyle change rather than weight loss, in terms of the sustainability of improvements in lifestyle behaviors, psychological well-being and medical symptoms at 2 years.


METHODS
In Dunedin, New Zealand in 2002/2003, 225 obese/overweight women (BMI > or = 28; 25-68 years) participated in a randomised, intention-to-treat trial comparing two group programs (P1, P2) and a self-guided mail-delivered program (P3). Only P1 included intensive relaxation response training. All three non-dieting interventions involved a 10-week program, followed by an eight-month support phase. Participants completed baseline, 1-year and 2-year assessments. Outcomes included behavioral, psychological and medical symptom measures and a composite success score.


RESULTS
118 participants completed the 2-year follow-up. Only among P1 participants were the reductions in psychological distress and medical symptoms achieved at 1 year, also maintained at 2 years. At 2 years, P1 participants had significantly greater increases in stress management behaviors than those in P2 (p<0.05), and significantly greater success scores than those in P3 (p<0.05). In all three programs, mean weight was unchanged at 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Inclusion of relaxation response training in a healthy lifestyle program facilitates long-term maintenance of psychological and medical symptom improvements even in the absence of weight loss.
Hawley
Greer
G
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Horwath
Caroline
C
Gray
Andrew
A
Bradshaw
Alison
A
Katzer
Lisa
L
Joyce
Janine
J
O'Brien
Sue
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*