Study to evaluate the effect of dietary advice and the role of exercise inobese women who are trying to lose weight

Background: Exercise should play an important part in any weight control pr ogramme and swimming/exercise in water has particular advantages for the ob ese individual. Since 1996 aquafit sessions for the obese have been availab le in Coventry as an optional adjunct to dietary intervention. Aim: The study aimed to compare outcomes in two groups: one group had recei ved individual dietary advice (GpDO) and the other group had received indiv idual dietary advice and also attended aquafit sessions regularly (GpDAq). Characteristics of groups members were compared and perceived barriers to s uccessful weight loss were considered. Method: The study looked retrospectively at a sample of obese women, aged 1 8-70 years, with a BMI (kg/m(2)) of over 35, referred hy their general prac titioners or consultants, for dietary advice for weight reduction. Particip ants were interviewed by a dietitian and researcher to gain data on long-te rm changes in weight, activity, and factors they felt had affected their we ight changes, 76 women (54 in GpDO and 22 in GpDAq) were invited to partici pate in the study. Thirty attended for interview (25 in GpDO and five in Gp DAq). The average time since first contact with dietitian to the review for this study (the study period) was 19 months (range 7-39 months), Results: The mean weight loss was 3.8 kg, SD = 5.5 (GpDO mean = 3.3 kg, SD = 4.9, and GpDAq mean = 6.2 kg. SD = 8.2). Two (7%) women tone in GpDO and one in GpDAq) reduced their weight by > 10% over the study period. Twenty-o ne (70%) participants (68% of GpDO and 80% of GpDAq) did not gain weight ov er the study period (initial weight > study weight). Nine (30%) participant s increased their physical activity by one episode of 30 min per week and m aintained this over the study period. Conclusions: The desire of many clients for long-term support and continuit y of care from a dietitian was highlighted, as were the perceived difficult ies in increasing physical activity. This study demonstrates that weight ma nagement interventions that provide dietary advice with and without exercis e can help some women to achieve moderate weight loss and maintain this, hi ghlighting areas for further consideration.