Ea. Leermakers et al., Effects of exercise-focused versus weight-focused maintenance programs on the management of obesity, ADDICT BEHA, 24(2), 1999, pp. 219-227
This study examined the effects of two maintenance programs on exercise par
ticipation, energy expenditure, energy consumption, and weight change in 67
obese adults undergoing behavioral weight-loss treatment. Following an ini
tial 6-month treatment phase which produced a mean weight loss of 8.8 kg, p
articipants were assigned randomly to an exercise-focused maintenance progr
am or to a weight-focused maintenance program. Both maintenance programs in
cluded 6 months of biweekly group sessions. The exercise-focused program in
cluded supervised group walking sessions, individual and group contingencie
s for exercise completion, and relapse prevention training targeted specifi
cally at the maintenance of physical activity. The weight-focused program c
ontained a general focus on the maintenance of weight-loss through therapis
t-led group problem-solving of weight-related problems presented by individ
ual participants. At the completion of the maintenance program end at long-
term follow-up, there were no significant differences between conditions in
exercise participation or energy expenditure. However, during the year fol
lowing initial treatment, participants in the weight-focused program demons
trated significantly greater reductions in fat consumption and significantl
y better maintenance of weight losses than subjects in the exercise-focused
program. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.