Weight Loss Strategies in Adults
Weight Loss Study Aim
This present study describes weight control strategies used by a heterogeneous
sample of US adults and their associations with weight and behaviour change
over time.
Weight Loss Study Subjects
Participants for this study were 1120 US adults recruited from the community
who enrolled in a three-year intervention study to examine methods for
preventing age-related weight gain.
Weight Loss Study Measurements
Measured body weight and self-reported behaviors related to body weight
(dieting practices, dietary intake and physical activity) were completed
annually for four years.
Weight Loss Study Results
Over 70 percent reported using each of the following dieting strategies
at least once in four years: increase exercise (82.2 percent); decrease
fat intake (78.7 percent); reduce food amount (78.2 percent); and reduce
calories (73.2 percent). Cumulative duration of use of these behaviors
was brief (for example, even the most common behaviors were used only
20 percent of the time). Global reports of dieting were not predictive
of weight change over time. However, a dose-response relationship was
observed between reported duration of use of several specific weight loss
strategies over the four years and change in behaviors and weight gain.
Weight Loss Study Conclusion
These findings suggest that public health recommendations for weight control
may need to place greater emphasis on persistence of weight control behaviors
Source: International Journal of Obesity
(1999)
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