Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

The correlates of long-term weight loss: a group comparison study of obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 1018–1025 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although the majority of weight loss attempts are unsuccessful, a small minority succeed in both weight loss and maintenance. The present study aimed to explore the correlates of this success.

METHOD: A group comparison design was used to examine differences between women who were classified as either weight loss maintainers (had been obese (body mass index, BMI=30+ kg/m2) and had lost weight to be considered non-obese (BMI<30 kg/m2) and maintained this weight loss for a minimum of 3 y; n=44), stable obese (maintained an obese weight (BMI=30+ kg/m2) for longer than 3 y; n=58), and weight loss regainers (been obese (BMI=30+ kg/m2), lost sufficient weight to be considered non-obese (BMI<30 kg/m2) and regained it (BMI=30+ kg/m2), n=40). In particular, the study examined differences in profile characteristics, historical factors, help-seeking behaviours and psychological factors.

RESULTS: The results showed that in terms of profile and historical factors, the weight loss maintainers had been lighter, were currently older and had dieted for longer than the other groups but were matched in terms of age, class and ethnic group. In terms of help-seeking behaviours, the weight loss maintainers reported having tried healthy eating more frequently but were comparable to the other subjects in terms of professionals contacted. Finally, for psychological factors the weight loss maintainers reported less endorsement for medical causes of obesity, greater endorsement for psychological consequences and indicated that they had been motivated to lose weight for psychological reasons.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss and maintenance is particularly correlated with a psychological model of obesity. This has implications for improving the effectiveness of interventions and the potential impact of current interest in medical approaches to obesity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Department of Health . Obesity: reversing the increasing problem of obesity in England. A report from the Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Forces HMSO: London 1995.

  2. Bray GA . Effects of obesity on health and happiness.In Brownell KD, Foreyt JP (eds) Handbook of eating disorders: physiology, psychology and treatment of obesity, anorexia and bulimia. Basic Books New York 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Stuart RB, Davis B . Slim chance in a fat world: behavioural control of obesity. Research Press: Champaign, IL 1972.

  4. Brownell KD . The LEARN programme for weight control. American Health: Dallas, TX 1990.

  5. Stunkard AJ . The management of obesity NY State J Med 1958 58: 79–87.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Wadden TA . Treatment of obesity by moderate and severe calorie restriction: results of clinical research trials Ann Intern Med 1993 119: 688–693.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Systematic review of interventions in the treatment and prevention of obesity. NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York 1997.

  8. McGuire MT, Wing RR, Klem ML, Hill JO . Behavioral strategies of individuals who have maintained long term weight losses Obes Res 1999 7: 334–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kayman S, Bruvold W, Stern JS . Maintenance and relapse after weight loss in women: behavioural aspects Am J Clin Nutr 1990 52: 800–807.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Colvin RH, Olson SB . A descriptive analysis of men and women who have lost significant weight and are highly successful at maintaining the loss Addictive Behav 1983 8: 287–295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hoiberg A, Berard S, Watten RH, Caine C . Correlates of weight loss in treatment and at follow up Int J Obes 1984 8: 457–465.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kiernan M, King AC, Kraemer HC, Stefanick ML, Killen JD . Characteristics of successful and unsuccessful dieters: a application of signal detection methodology Ann Behav Med 1998 20: 1–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Klem ML, Wing RR, McGuire MT, Seagle HM, Hill JO . A descriptive study of individuals successful at long term maintenance of substantial weight loss Am J Clin Nutr 1997 66: 239–246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Stuart RB, Guire K . Some correlates of the maintenance of weight lost through behaviour modification Int J Obes 1978 2: 225–235.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Neumark-Sztainer D, Kaufmann NA, Berry EM . Physical activity within community based weight control programme: programme evaluation and predictors of stress Public Health Rev 1995 23: 237–251.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Wadden TA, Foster GD, Wang J, Pierson RN, Yang MU, Moreland K, Stunkard AJ, VanItallie TB . Clinical correlates of short and long term weight loss Am J Clin Nutr 1992 56: 271S–274S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wong ML, Koh D, Lee MH, Fong YT . Two year follow up of a behavioural weight control programme for adolescents in Singapore: predictors of long term weight loss Ann Acad Med Singapore 1997 26: 147–153.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Klesges RC, Klesges L . Cigarette smoking as a dieting strategy in a University population Int J Eating Disord 1988 7: 413–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ohlin A, Rossner S . Maternal body weight development after pregnancy Int J Obes 1990 14: 159–173.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Haus G, Hoerr SL, Mavis B, Robison J . Key modifiable factors in weight maintenance: fat intake, exercise and weight cycling J Am Diet Assoc 1994 94: 409–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. French SA, Jeffrey RW . Current dieting, weight loss history and weight suppression: behavioural correlates of three dimensions of dieting Addict Behav 1997 22: 31–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rodin J, Bray GA, Attkinson RL, Dahms WT, Greenwa FL, Hamilton K, Molitch M . Predictors of successful weight loss in an outpatient obesity clinic Int J Obes 1977 1: 79–87.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Williams GC, Grow VM, Freedman ZR, Ryan RM, Deci EL . Motivational predictors of weight loss and weight loss maintenance J Pers Soc Psychol 1996 70: 115–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Heijmans MJ . Coping and adaptive outcome in chronic fatigue syndrome: the importance of illness cognitions J Psychosom Res 1998 45: 39–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sjostrom L, Rissanen A, Andersen T, Boldrin M, Golay A, Koppeschaar HPF, Krempf M . Ramdomised placebo controlled trial of orlistat for weight loss and prevention of weight regain in obese patients The Lancet 1998 352: 167–172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the help of Cheryl Pitt and Dr Elizabeth Evans with data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Practice, Guys, Kings and St Thomas' Hospitals, Kings College, London, UK

    J Ogden

Authors
  1. J Ogden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J Ogden.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ogden, J. The correlates of long-term weight loss: a group comparison study of obesity. Int J Obes 24, 1018–1025 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801354

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801354

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links