Predictors of long-term weight maintenance.

Area of Science:

• Obesity research
• Metabolic studies
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Weight regain is a common challenge after successful weight loss.
• Understanding predictors of weight maintenance is crucial for effective obesity management.
• Long-term studies are needed to identify factors influencing weight regain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors predisposing to weight regain in a long-term weight maintenance study.
• To evaluate variables associated with successful weight maintenance after a period of weight loss.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of healthy men and women (n=91) aged 18-65 with a baseline BMI of 30.2 ± 3.1 kg/m².
• Measurements taken before and after a very-low-energy diet, with follow-up of at least 2 years.
• Analysis of weight change, body composition, resting metabolic rate, dietary restraint, and dieting frequency.

Main Results:

• Mean weight loss was 7.9 kg, with 113.8% weight regain.
• Increased dietary restraint was negatively associated with BMI regain (r = -0.47, p < 0.05).
• Higher baseline resting metabolic rate (r = -0.38, p = 0.01) and fat mass (r = -0.24, p = 0.05) predicted better weight maintenance.

Conclusions:

• Weight maintenance is multifactorial, involving energy expenditure, body composition, and eating behavior.
• Key predictors include increased dietary restraint, high baseline resting metabolic rate, and favorable body composition.
• A stable body weight and low frequency of dieting contribute to successful long-term weight management.