Maintenance of successful weight loss: incidence and prediction

A sample of 47 formerly overweight persons was tracked by mailed questionnaire for one year. They had been 32.7 percent mean overweight; 60 percent lost weight independently and 40 percent with para-professional groups. Ninety-four percent remained below the criterion of 15 percent overweight; 58 percent succeeding in limiting regain to less than 20 percent of the amount lost. Total score on eight questionnaire items correctly predicted 95 percent of the relapses and 79 percent of those maintaining (83 percent overall correct). Statistical estimates indicated that these percentages were reliable. Two of the eight items with special relevance for intervention showed the maintainers more likely to exercise several times per week and less likely to eat for emotional reasons.