Effects of exercise-focused versus weight-focused maintenance programs on the management of obesity

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.