title: Effects of prescribing 1,000 versus 1,500 kilocalories per day in the behavioral treatment of obesity: a randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Controversy exists regarding the optimal energy prescription to promote successful long-term behavioral management of obesity. Prescribing intake of 1,000 (vs. 1,500) kcal/day may produce larger initial weight reduction, but long-term advantage remains unclear. The effects of prescribing 1,000 versus 1,500 kcal/day on 6- and 12-month weight changes within behavioral treatment of obesity were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 125 obese women (mean ± SD; BMI = 37.84 ± 3.94 kg/m(2) ) randomly assigned goals of 1,000 or 1,500 kcal/day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From months 0 to 6, participants prescribed 1,000 kcal/day lost more weight than those prescribed 1,500 kcal/day (mean ± SE = -10.03 ± 0.92g vs. -6.23 ± 0.94 kg, P = 0.045); however, from months 7 through 12, only the 1,000 kcal/day condition experienced a significant weight regain (1.51 ± 0.77 kg, P = 0.025). Baseline caloric consumption moderated the effect of treatment on regain; participants with baseline intakes ≧2,000 kcal/day who were assigned 1,000 kcal/day were significantly more susceptible to weight regain than those assigned 1,500 kcal/day (P = 0.049). At month 12, a significantly greater percentage of 1,000 kcal/day participants achieved weight reductions of 5% or more than those prescribed 1,500 kcal/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Encouraging obese individuals in behavioral treatment to adhere to a 1,000 kcal/day intake may increase their likelihood of achieving clinically meaningful weight losses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nackers
authors.forename: Kathryn R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dubyak
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Perri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss