PERSONS SUCCESSFUL AT LONG-TERM WEIGHT-LOSS AND MAINTENANCE CONTINUE TO CONSUME A LOW-ENERGY, LOW-FAT DIET

Objectives To describe the dietary intakes of persons who successfully maintained weight loss and to determine if differences exist between those who lost weight on their own vs those who received assistance wi th weight loss leg, participated in a commercial or self-help program or were seen individually by a dietitian). Intakes of selected nutrien ts were also compared with data from the third National Health and Nut rition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and the 1989 Recommended Dietar y Allowances (RDAs). Subjects Subjects were 355 women and 83 men, aged 18 years or older, primarily white, who had maintained a weight loss of at least 13.6 kg for at least 1 year, and were the initial enrollee s in the ongoing National Weight Control Registry. On average, the par ticipants had lost 30 kg and maintained the weight loss for 5.1 years. Methods A cross-sectional study in which subjects in the registry com pleted demographic and weight history questionnaires as well as the He alth Habits and History Questionnaire developed by Block et al. Subjec ts' dietary intake data were compared with that of similarly aged men and women in the NHANES III cohort and to the RDAs. Adequacy of the di et was assessed by comparing the intake of selected nutrients (iron; c alcium; and vitamins C, A, and E) in subjects who lost weight on their own or with assistance. Results Successful maintainers of weight loss reported continued consumption of a low-energy and low-fat diet. Wome n in the registry reported eating an average of 1,306 kcal/day (24.3% of energy from fat); men reported consuming 1,685 kcal (23.5% of energ y from fat). Subjects in the registry reported consuming less energy a nd a lower percentage of energy from fat than NHANES III subjects did. Subjects who lost weight on their own did not differ from those who l ost weight with assistance in regards to energy intake, percent of ene rgy from fat, or intake of selected nutrients (iron; calcium; and vita mins C, A, and E). In addition, subjects who lost weight on their own and those who lost weight with assistance met the RDAs for calcium and vitamins C, A, and E for persons aged 25 years or older. Applications Because continued consumption of a low-fat, low-energy diet may be ne cessary for long-term weight control, persons who have successfully lo st weight should be encouraged to maintain such a diet.