Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine behavioural characteristics of subjects with successful long-term weight reduction.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with 3 y follow-up.
SETTING: Multicentre study of participants of a commercial weight-reduction programme (BCM-Programme).
SUBJECTS: Until February 2000, 6857 voluntary study participants were included. Analyses are based on 1247 subjects with complete 3 y data.
INTERVENTIONS: Open-group dietary and behavioural counselling with initial meal substitutions.
RESULTS: Subjects show a number of significant behavioural improvements, for example, choice of low-fat food, flexible control of eating behaviour and coping with stress. Subjects who maintain these changes by the end of the first year have a higher probability of successful weight reduction after 3 y.
CONCLUSIONS: Successful weight maintenance is associated with more pronounced improvements of health behaviours after 1 y. The likelihood of success increases with the number of behavioural patterns which are involved in the process of change.
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References
Ayyad C, Andersen T . Long-term efficacy of dietary treatment of obesity: a systematic review of studies published between 1931 and 1999. Obesity Rev 2000; 1: 113–119.
Westenhoefer J, Stunkard AJ, Pudel V . Validation of the flexible and rigid control dimensions of dietary restraint. Int J Eating Disord 1999; 26: 53–64.
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Westenhoefer, J., von Falck, B., Stellfeldt, A. et al. Behavioural correlates of successful weight reduction over 3 y. Results from the Lean Habits Study. Int J Obes 28, 334–335 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802530
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802530
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