Long-term weight maintenance after a 17-week weight loss intervention with or without a one-year maintenance program: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Weight lost by obese patients is almost always regained over time. Extended treatment may improve maintenance, but solid evidence is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
We determined effectiveness of maintenance therapy after a weight loss program.


METHODS
Together 201 patients (mean age 47 years and BMI 42 kg/m(2), 71% women) were randomly assigned to either a 17-week weight loss program followed by a one-year maintenance program or to a weight loss program without subsequent maintenance intervention. The weight loss program included behavior modification and a very-low-calorie diet, and maintenance program behavior modification. The primary outcome measure was percentage of patients with 5% or more weight loss at the end of maintenance (week 69) and one year later (week 121). Secondary outcomes were weight related changes in lifestyle and quality of life.


RESULTS
At week 69, 52% of the patients with and 44% of those without maintenance program had lost weight ≥5%, P = 0.40, and, at week 121, 33% and 34%, P = 0.77, respectively. At week 121 secondary outcomes did not differ between the groups among those successfully followed up.


CONCLUSIONS
This one-year maintenance program was not effective in preventing weight regain in severely obese patients. Trial Registration. This trial is registered under clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00590655.
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Peijas Hospital, Sairaalakatu 1, PL 900, 00029 HUS Vantaa, Finland.
Tuula
T
Pekkarinen
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Peijas Hospital, Sairaalakatu 1, PL 900, 00029 HUS Vantaa, Finland ; Sanofi Oy, PL 22, Huopalahdentie 24, 00350 Helsinki, Finland.
Jarmo
J
Kaukua
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Peijas Hospital, Sairaalakatu 1, PL 900, 00029 HUS Vantaa, Finland.
Pertti
P
Mustajoki
D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs