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Dieting during maintenance after successful completion of a commercial weight loss program
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Dieting during maintenance after successful completion of a commercial weight loss program

John Graham Thomas, Michael R. Lowe and Karen Miller‐Kovach
The FASEB journal, v 20(4), pp A586-A586
Mar 2006
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.20.4.A586

Abstract

In some randomized controlled trials of weight‐loss interventions, results have been adjusted for weight‐loss episodes reported between program termination and follow‐up. This study examined a sample of people who successfully completed the Weight Watchers® program (weight loss of 9.5 ± 5.7 kg) for relationships between weight‐loss efforts during maintenance and long‐term outcome. Participants (n=202) were assessed 1, 2, or 5 years post‐completion, reported at least 3 months of weight stability during maintenance, and completed the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). The sample was subdivided into two groups based on whether they reported at least 1 attempt to lose 5 pounds during maintenance. Those who attempted weight loss (65.3% of the sample) regained significantly more weight (M = 5.2 kg, SD = 5.1) than those (34.3% of the sample) who reported no attempt at weight loss (M =1.2 kg, SD = 4.9; F (1, 196) = 10.0, p = .002). Those who attempted weight loss during maintenance scored significantly higher on the Disinhibition (F (196) = 8.41 p = .004) and Rigid Restraint scales (F (198) = 5.45. p = .021) on the TFEQ; each effect remained significant when controlling for the other. Though weight loss during maintenance could reflect desirable self‐regulation, the results indicate that it is a negative prognostic indicator of weight regain. Discussion will focus on possible causal relationships between disinhibited eating, rigid dieting, weight loss dieting and weight regain. Funding provided by Weight Watchers International Inc.

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