Behavioral Strategies of Individuals Who Have Maintained Long‐Term Weight Losses

Abstract

MCGUIRE, MAUREEN T., RENA R. WING, MARY L. KLEM, AND JAMES O. HILL. Behavioral strategies of individuals who have maintained long‐term weight losses. Obes Res. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the behaviors of individuals who have achieved long‐term weight loss maintenance with those of regainers and weight‐stable controls. Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects for the present study were participants in a random‐digit dial telephone survey that used a representative sample of the U. S. adult population. Eating, exercise, self‐weighing, and dietary restraint characteristics were compared among weight‐loss maintainers: individuals who had intentionally lost ≥10% of their weight and maintained it for ≥1 year (n = 69), weight‐loss regainers: individuals who intentionally lost ≥10% of their weight but had not maintained it (n = 56), and weight‐stable controls: individuals who had never lost ≥10% of their maximum weight and had maintained their current weight (±10 pounds) within the past 5 years (n= 113). Results: Weight‐loss maintainers had lost an average of 37 pounds and maintained it for over 7 years. These individuals reported that they currently used more behavioral strategies to control dietary fat intake, have higher levels of physical activity (especially strenuous activity), and greater frequency of self‐weighing than either the weight‐loss regainers or weight‐stable controls. Maintainers and regainers did not differ in reported levels of dietary restraint, but both had higher levels of restraint than the weight‐stable controls. Discussion: These results suggest that weight‐loss maintainers use more behavioral strategies to control their weight than either regainers or weight‐stable controls. It would thus appear that long‐term weight maintenance requires ongoing adherence to a low‐fat diet and an exercise regimen in addition to continued attention to body weight.