Weight Loss & Maintenance
Weight Loss Programs & Weight Maintenance
Preventing regain of fat loss is the main challenge of weight maintenance.
Among the limited numbers of weight loss programs that do long-term follow-up
surveys, many find that weight losses are completely regained within 3-5
years. A successful weight loss program is often defined as one that produces
maintenance of loss of at least 5 percent, or 6.6 kg of body weight.
National Weight Control Registry
The National Weight Control Registry involves individuals who have lost
at least 30 pounds of body fat and have sustained the loss for a least
a year; the typical registrant has, in fact, lost more than that minimum
and sustained the loss for more than five years. The successful weight
maintainers in the Registry report very careful attention to a reduced
calorie, low-fat diet, increased levels of physical activity, and frequent
weighing. It is not established that these behaviors represent what is
minimally necessary for weight loss maintenance; however, these proposed
lifestyle modifications on an ongoing basis have produced long-term weight
loss maintenance.
Long Term Weight Maintenance Programs
Experts in the prevention of relapse have developed models to explain
the environmental, emotional, and behavioral aspects of relapse. Unfortunately,
these models do not address the biological factors impacting metabolic
rate and hunger and satiety, thereby contributing to weight regain. Improvements
in weight loss maintenance are shown when the risks of relapse are addressed
as part of the intervention. Even with extended contacts and relapse prevention
education, the reported programs are not able to produce maintenance of
all losses in all participants. It is difficult to sustain the commitment
and participation in long-term weight loss treatment programs or with
follow-up weight programs, but this is what has been shown to be effective.
Source: American Dietetic Association
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