Behavioral strategies of individuals who have maintained long-term weight losses

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the behaviors of individuals who have achieved long-term weight loss maintenance with those of regainers and weight-stable controls. Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects for the present study were partic ipants in a random-digit dial telephone survey that used a representative s ample of the U.S. adult population. Eating, exercise, self-weighing, and di etary restraint characteristics were compared among weight-loss maintainers : individuals who had intentionally lost greater than or equal to 10% of th eir weight and maintained it for greater than or equal to 1 year (n = 69), weight-loss regainers: individuals who intentionally lost greater than or e qual to 10% of their weight but had not maintained it (n = 56), and weight- stable controls: individuals who had never lost greater than or equal to 10 % of their maximum weight and had maintained their current weight (+/-10 po unds) within the past 5 years (n = 113). Results: Weight-loss maintainers had lost an average of 37 pounds and maint ained it for over 7 years. These individuals reported that they currently u sed more behavioral strategies to control dietary fat intake, have higher l evels of physical activity (especially strenuous activity), and greater fre quency of self-weighing than either the weight-loss regainers or weight-sta ble controls. Maintainers and regainers did not differ in reported levels o f dietary restraint, but both had higher levels of restraint than the weigh t-stable controls. Discussion: These results suggest that weight-loss maintainers use more beh avioral strategies to control their weight than either regainers or weight- stable controls. It would thus appear that long-term weight maintenance req uires ongoing adherence to a low-fat diet and an exercise regimen in additi on to continued attention to body weight.