A randomized clinical trial of a weight loss maintenance intervention in a primary care population.
OBJECTIVE
In-person weight loss maintenance visits have been shown to reduce weight regain after initial weight loss. This study examined, in a primary care population, whether in-person visits plus portion-controlled meals were more effective in reducing 12-month weight regain than mailed materials plus portion controlled meals.


METHODS
Study participants (n = 106) received 6 months of intensive behavioral treatment. Participants who completed this phase (n = 84) were then randomized to continue monthly in-person visits for weight loss maintenance as well as telephone calls between visits ("intensified maintenance") or to receive materials by mail ("standard maintenance"). All participants had access to subsidized portion-controlled foods during the 6-month run-in and the 12 months of maintenance. The primary outcome was weight change during the 12 months after randomization.


RESULTS
During months 0-12 after randomization, individuals assigned to standard maintenance regained 5.3% ± 0.8% of body weight, while those assigned to intensified maintenance regained 1.6% ± 1.2% of body weight. The difference between groups (3.7% ± 1.4%) was statistically significant (P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In a primary care population, continued in-person visits during the weight loss maintenance phase led to greater weight loss than contact by mail.
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.|Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Adam G
AG
Tsai
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.|Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Sue
S
Felton
Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Thomas A
TA
Wadden
Colorado Health Outcomes Program, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Patrick W
PW
Hosokawa
Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
James O
JO
Hill
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult