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Weight loss maintenance 1 year after individual counseling
1Seiler Corporation, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Individual weight loss counseling shows long-term success. Patients maintained or lost more weight a year later, demonstrating the effectiveness of sustained nutritional support.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Obesity Research
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Short-term weight loss success is common, but long-term maintenance data is scarce.
- Hospital outpatient nutrition clinics offer a setting for structured weight management.
- Documentation of long-term outcomes for specific weight loss interventions is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term weight loss maintenance of patients receiving individual counseling.
- To assess the success rate of weight loss interventions beyond the initial treatment period.
- To provide evidence on the efficacy of hospital-based nutrition counseling for sustained weight management.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 157 patients in a hospital outpatient nutrition clinic (Feb-Oct 1986).
- Patients who lost weight were contacted 1 year later via telephone.
- Weight loss maintenance was ascertained through self-reported weight status.
Main Results:
- Of 119 patients who lost weight (average 9 lb over 5 visits), 73 were contacted after 1 year.
- 54 patients (74% of those contacted) maintained or lost additional weight.
- 16 patients (30% of the 54) lost an average of 13 additional pounds.
Conclusions:
- Individualized weight loss counseling can lead to successful long-term weight maintenance.
- Hospital-based nutrition clinics can be effective in supporting sustained weight management.
- Dietetic practitioners should track long-term patient outcomes to demonstrate program value.