J. Graham Thomas, Ph.D., is the lead author on a 10-year
observational study of self-reported weight loss and behavior change in
nearly 3,000 participants. The participants had lost at least 30 pounds
and had kept if off for at least one year when they were enrolled in the
National Weight Control Registry (NWCR).
The participants were then followed for 10 years. Thomas explains that the goal of the study was to determine how well they kept the weight off and to identify predictors of successful weight loss maintenance.
Thomas says, "On average, participants maintained the majority of their weight loss over this extended follow-up period, and better success was related to continued performance of physical activity, self-weighing, low-fat diets, and avoiding overeating."
Other findings from the study show that more than 87 percent of the participants were estimated to be still maintaining at least a 10 percent weight loss at years five and 10. The researchers found that a larger initial weight loss and longer duration of maintenance were associated with better long-term outcomes. Conversely, they found that decreases in physical activity, dietary restraint and self-weighing along with increases in fat intake were associated with greater weight regain.
Thomas concludes, "This is one of the only studies to follow weight loss maintenance over such a long term. What the results tell us is that long-term weight loss maintenance is possible, but it requires persistent adherence to a few key health behaviors."
Source: sciencedaily.com
The participants were then followed for 10 years. Thomas explains that the goal of the study was to determine how well they kept the weight off and to identify predictors of successful weight loss maintenance.
Thomas says, "On average, participants maintained the majority of their weight loss over this extended follow-up period, and better success was related to continued performance of physical activity, self-weighing, low-fat diets, and avoiding overeating."
Other findings from the study show that more than 87 percent of the participants were estimated to be still maintaining at least a 10 percent weight loss at years five and 10. The researchers found that a larger initial weight loss and longer duration of maintenance were associated with better long-term outcomes. Conversely, they found that decreases in physical activity, dietary restraint and self-weighing along with increases in fat intake were associated with greater weight regain.
Thomas concludes, "This is one of the only studies to follow weight loss maintenance over such a long term. What the results tell us is that long-term weight loss maintenance is possible, but it requires persistent adherence to a few key health behaviors."
Source: sciencedaily.com
Maintaining our weight shouldn't be a problem for a healthy person so if it is a problem we are not healthy enough.
ReplyDeleteThat was a long study to come up with the end results. The people who lose and keep it off seem to me to be the ones who count calories. A good habit to have.
ReplyDeleteOf course the longer you work on your health the better it will get. That is quite a long-lasting study, but shows just how persistent you have to be if you want to maintain a good weight and health.
ReplyDeleteStudies usually aren't that long. It did have good results though.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting study.
ReplyDeleteOvereating is definitely what has been keeping me from reaching my ideal weight. All these findings make a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteDieting needs attention to detail for sure.
ReplyDeleteThis was informative.
ReplyDeleteI know that you can maintain your weight if you adopt a healthy diet and never give up on it. Dieting and exercising have to become a sort of lifestyle.
ReplyDelete