Successful and unsuccessful participants in a weight reduction program. What are the differences?

摘要

Programmes based on behavioural therapy have been successful in short-term weight reduction. However, the few long-term studies on the maintenance of weight reduction have often recorded weight increases. A survey was carried out on 700 persons who took part in the group programme "Losing weight sensibly" between several months and 10 years previously. The survey covered changes in weight, nutritional behaviour, exercise and general well-being. There was a marked reduction in weight of 10% immediately after the end of the course. At the time of the follow-up survey (at least one year after the end of the course), weight reduction was 7% relative to the starting weight. Successful participants were defined as those with >10% weight loss in the follow-up survey. Unsuccessful participants were defined as those with no weight loss or an increase in weight. There were marked differences between these groups with respect to code of conduct, nutritional behaviour, exercise, social support, implementation of what was learnt, and general well-being.