Successful long-term weight maintenance: a 2-year follow-up

Area of Science:

• Obesity research
• Dietary interventions
• Metabolic health

Background:

• Weight maintenance after significant weight loss remains a challenge.
• Very low-calorie diets (VLCDs) can induce substantial weight loss but require strategies for long-term success.
• Understanding factors predicting successful weight maintenance is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of successful long-term weight maintenance (WM) in overweight and obese individuals following a VLCD.
• To analyze associations between baseline characteristics, dietary changes, body composition, and WM outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 103 overweight/obese subjects completed a 6-week VLCD (2.1 MJ/d).
• Body weight, composition, leptin, eating attitudes, and physical activity were assessed pre-VLCD and up to 2 years post-VLCD.
• Successful WM was defined as <10% body weight regain after 2 years.

Main Results:

• Mean weight loss during VLCD was 7.2 kg; 2-year regain averaged 69%.
• Only 13 subjects achieved successful WM (<10% regain).
• Successful individuals had higher baseline BMI and fat mass, and significantly increased dietary restraint during the study, with a potential fat-free mass sparing effect.

Conclusions:

• Successful long-term weight maintenance is associated with enhanced and sustained dietary restraint.
• Preservation of fat-free mass during VLCD and higher baseline adiposity are linked to better WM outcomes.
• These factors offer targets for improving long-term weight management strategies.