title: Weight loss in a UK commercial all meal provision study: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective approaches are needed to address the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. The present study investigated whether all meal provision was a more effective and acceptable method for weight loss than a self-directed diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomised controlled trial recruited 112 men and women with a body mass index in the range 27-35 kg m(-2), who had no comorbidities, from the local area of Hull. Participants were randomised to receive either meal provision or follow a self-directed diet for a 12-week period that resulted in an estimated 2928 kJ day(-1) (700 kcal day(-1)) deficit. A dietitian supervised both dietary interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 weeks [mean (SEM)], percentage weight loss in the meal provision group was 6.6% (0.5%) compared to 4.3% (0.6%) for those on the self-directed diet. In terms of clinically relevant weight loss, 61% of participants lost 5% or more of their body weight with meal provision compared to 22% on the self-directed diet (P < 0.001). Weight loss was associated with wellbeing in both groups. Attrition was less apparent with 7% of those participants receiving meal provision withdrawing from the study compared to 41% of those following the self-directed diet (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meal provision was a more effective and accepted method for weight loss over a 12-week period compared to a self-directed diet. This may in part represent the difference between being given the meal provision food free of charge. However, longer-term maintenance studies need to be undertaken to ascertain their effects on the maintenance of weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whitham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Atkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006113:United Kingdom; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: diet; meal provision; meal replacement; obesity; weight loss