3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PARTICIPANTS IN A COMMERCIAL WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM - CAN YOU KEEP IT OFF

Background: One third of Americans are obese, according to the 1988-19 91 National Health and Nutrition Endpoint Survey III survey. Obesity i ncreases the risk of death and a variety of chronic diseases. Numerous commercial weight loss programs demonstrate short-term success Object ive: To assess maintenance of weight loss achieved during dieting. Met hods: We surveyed 192 participants in the Sandoz Nutrition (Sandoz Pha rmaceuticals, Minneapolis, Minn) diet program approximately 3 years af ter participation. Initial data were supplied by the diet clinics and follow-up data, including weight at various points after the program, participation in other weight loss programs, and lifestyle variables, such as exercise, smoking, and television watching, were collected by a mailed questionnaire. Results: On average, the group lost 22 kg duri ng the diet program. After the follow-up period, the mean weight (mean , 102.6 kg) was only modestly less than the group's original weight at the start of the diet (mean, 105.9 kg). Twelve percent of the subject s maintained 75% of their weight loss after leaving the diet program, 57% maintained at least 5% of the loss, and 40% gained back more than they had lost during the diet. The frequency of exercise after the die t program was the strongest predictor of weight loss maintenance, whil e television viewing predicted a gain in weight. Conclusion: Given the apparent lack of substantial, longterm success at weight reduction, p erhaps greater emphasis should be placed on prevention of obesity.