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Behavioural correlates of successful weight reduction over 3 y. Results from the Lean Habits Study
J Westenhoefer1, B von Falck, A Stellfeldt
1Department of Nutrition and Home Economics, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany. joachim@westenhoefer.de
Objective:
To examine behavioural characteristics of subjects with successful long-term weight reduction.
Design:
Prospective cohort study with 3 y follow-up.
Setting:
Multicentre study of participants of a commercial weight-reduction programme (BCM-Programme).
Subjects:
Until February 2000, 6857 voluntary study participants were included. Analyses are based on 1247 subjects with complete 3 y data.
Interventions:
Open-group dietary and behavioural counselling with initial meal substitutions.
Results:
Subjects show a number of significant behavioural improvements, for example, choice of low-fat food, flexible control of eating behaviour and coping with stress. Subjects who maintain these changes by the end of the first year have a higher probability of successful weight reduction after 3 y.
Conclusions:
Successful weight maintenance is associated with more pronounced improvements of health behaviours after 1 y. The likelihood of success increases with the number of behavioural patterns which are involved in the process of change.
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