Cited by 1,208Eating Disorders and BehaviorsObesity, Physical Activity, DietObesity and Health Practices

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 83 of the 83 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer.

Mann, Traci, Tomiyama, A. Janet, Westling, Erika, Lew, Ann-Marie, Samuels, Barbra, Chatman, Jason·2007·American Psychologist

DOI 10.1037/0003-066x.62.3.220

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and its associated health problems have increased sharply in the past 2 decades. New revisions to Medicare policy will allow funding for obesity treatments of proven efficacy. The authors review studies of the long-term outcomes of calorie-restricting diets to assess whether dieting is an effective treatment for obesity. These studies show that one third to two thirds of dieters regain more weight than they lost on their diets, and these studies likely underestimate the extent to which dieting is counterproductive because of several methodological problems, all of which bias the studies toward showing successful weight loss maintenance. In addition, the studies do not provide consistent evidence that dieting results in significant health improvements, regardless of weight change. In sum, there is little support for the notion that diets lead to lasting weight loss or health benefits.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1037/0003-066x.62.3.220

Cites

83 of 83 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin
(2002) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa012512 · Cited by 19,011
Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations
(2004) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1490 · Cited by 8,477
Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
(1995) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e525162010-001 · Cited by 5,488
Health: United States
Lee, J. A. H. (1986) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1986.03370120114036 · Cited by 2,252
XENical in the Prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects (XENDOS) Study
Torgerson, J. S., Hauptman, J., Boldrin, M. N., & Sjöström, L. (2004) · Diabetes Care · doi:10.2337/diacare.27.1.155 · Cited by 1,915
Long-term weight-loss maintenance: a meta-analysis of US studies
Anderson, J. W., Konz, E. C., Frederich, R. C., & Wood, C. L. (2001) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/74.5.579 · Cited by 1,351
Sodium Reduction and Weight Loss in the Treatment of Hypertension in Older Persons: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly (TONE)
Whelton, P. K., Appel, L. J., Espeland, M. A., Applegate, W. B., Ettinger, Jr., Kostis, J. B., Kumanyika, S., Lacy, C. R., Johnson, K. C., Folmar, S., et al. (1998) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.279.11.839 · Cited by 1,200
Long-term maintenance of weight loss: Current status.
Jeffery, R. W., Epstein, L. H., Wilson, G. T., Drewnowski, A., Stunkard, A. J., & Wing, R. R. (2000) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.19.suppl1.5 · Cited by 1,093
A descriptive study of individuals successful at long-term maintenance of substantial weight loss
Klem, M., Wing, R., McGuire, M., Seagle, H., & Hill, J. (1997) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/66.2.239 · Cited by 1,060
Weight Loss Reduces the Risk for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis in Women
Felson, D. T., Zhang, Y., Anthony, J. M., Naimark, A., & Anderson, J. J. (1992) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-116-7-535 · Cited by 928

Show all 83 references

Sorted by citations

Items 101–200 of 1,000

Bridging the gap between the science of cultured meat and public perceptions
Tomiyama, A. J., Kawecki, N. S., Rosenfeld, D. L., Jay, J. A., Rajagopal, D., & Rowat, A. C. (2020) · Trends in Food Science & Technology · doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2020.07.019 · Cited by 121
Self-citation
Cognitive behavioral therapy improves diet and body composition in overweight and obese adolescents
Tsiros, M. D., Sinn, N., Brennan, L., Coates, A. M., Walkley, J., Petkov, J., Howe, P. R. C., & Buckley, J. D. (2008) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.5.1134 · Cited by 113
Comparison of acceptance-based and standard cognitive-based coping strategies for craving sweets in overweight and obese women
Forman, E. M., Hoffman, K. L., Juarascio, A. S., Butryn, M. L., & Herbert, J. D. (2012) · Eating Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2012.10.016 · Cited by 107
The consequences of a weight‐centric approach to healthcare: A case for a paradigm shift in how clinicians address body weight
Mauldin, K., May, M. S., & Clifford, D. E. (2022) · Nutrition in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1002/ncp.10885 · Cited by 114
Effects of The Coach Approach Intervention on Adherence to Exercise in Obese Women
Annesi, J. J., Unruh, J. L., Marti, N. C., Gorjala, S., & Tennant, G. A. (2011) · Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport · doi:10.1080/02701367.2011.10599726 · Cited by 112
“It is possible that physical activity treatments will be designed to generalize behavioral skills and feelings of self-efficacy to the task of maintaining caloric restrictions (where failure to maintain is the rule, rather than the exception; Mann et al., 2007).”
Background
Mechanisms responsible for excess weight loss after bariatric surgery
Ionut, V., & Bergman, R. N. (2011) · Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology · doi:10.1177/193229681100500536 · Cited by 105
“Additive insulinotropic effects of exogenous synthetic human gastric inhibitory polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide infused at near-physiological insulinotropic hormone and glucose concentrations.”
Influential
Lipoedema: a paradigm shift and consensus
Bertsch, T., Erbacher, G., Elwell, R., & Partsch, H. (2020) · Journal of Wound Care · doi:10.12968/jowc.2020.29.sup11b.1 · Cited by 111
Virtual Reality Based Treatments in Eating Disorders and Obesity: A Review
Ferrer‐García, M., Gutiérrez‐Maldonado, J., & Riva, G. (2013) · Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy · doi:10.1007/s10879-013-9240-1 · Cited by 108
The Role of the Fatosphere in Fat Adults’ Responses to Obesity Stigma
Dickins, M., Thomas, S. L., King, B., Lewis, S. C., & Holland, K. (2011) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732311417728 · Cited by 103
“This ideology, however, further stigmatized and blamed fat individuals without considering the evidence that losing weight (and maintaining the loss) through weight-loss dieting is considered an exceptionally difficult undertaking for most individuals (Mann et al., 2007; Rice, 2007).”
Background
SOCS3 as a future target to treat metabolic disorders
Pedroso, J. A. B., Ramos-Lobo, A. M., & Donato, J. (2018) · HORMONES · doi:10.1007/s42000-018-0078-5 · Cited by 106
Supported Exercise Improves Controlled Eating and Weight through Its Effects on Psychosocial Factors: Extending a Systematic Research Program Toward Treatment Development
Annesi, J. J. (2012) · The Permanente Journal · doi:10.7812/11-136 · Cited by 103
Initial Validation of the Mindful Eating Scale
Hulbert‐Williams, L., Nicholls, W., Joy, J., & Hulbert-Williams, N. (2013) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-013-0227-5 · Cited by 115
“…have excellent efficacy, extremely poor adherence to such lifestyle changes result in poor realworld effectiveness, leading some researchers (e.g. Mann et al. 2007) to claim that dieting simply does not work and others (e.g. Stice et al. 1999) to claim that dieting can paradoxically lead to…”
From Homeostatic to Hedonic Theories of Eating: Self‐Regulatory Failure in Food‐Rich Environments
Stroebe, W., Papies, E. K., & Aarts, H. (2008) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00360.x · Cited by 103
“Evidence from clinical weight loss studies suggests that most participants fail to maintain their weight loss over more than three to four years ( Mann, Tomiyama, Lew, Samuels, & Chatman, 2007; Powell, Calvin, & Calvin, 2007).”
Reporting risk, producing prejudice: How news reporting on obesity shapes attitudes about health risk, policy, and prejudice
Saguy, A. C., Frederick, D. A., & Gruys, K. (2014) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.03.026 · Cited by 99
“In contrast, some researchers, clinicians, and activists promote a health at every size (HAES (r)) frame, which asserts that people of all sizes can be healthyand thatweight-loss diets typically lead to longterm weight gain and worsened health (Bacon et al., 2001; Mann et al., 2007).”
Background
Healthy food choices are happy food choices: Evidence from a real life sample using smartphone based assessments
Wahl, D. R., Villinger, K., König, L. M., Ziesemer, K., Schupp, H. T., & Renner, B. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-17262-9 · Cited by 104
“They rated (1) how much they enjoyed the meal, (2) how pleased they were with their meal, and (3) how tasty their meal was.”
The Reward-Based Eating Drive Scale: A Self-Report Index of Reward-Based Eating
Epel, E. S., Tomiyama, A. J., Mason, A. E., Laraia, B. A., Hartman, W. M., Ready, K., Acree, M. C., Adam, T. C., Jeor, S. S., & Kessler, D. A. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0101350 · Cited by 111
“ioral, fail to promote long-term maintenance of weight loss [3].”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Techniques for modifying impulsive processes associated with unhealthy eating: A systematic review.
van Beurden, S. B., Greaves, C. J., Smith, J. R., & Abraham, C. (2016) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/hea0000337 · Cited by 96
Long‐term Effects of Dieting: Is Weight Loss Related to Health?
Tomiyama, A. J., Ahlstrom, B., & Mann, T. L. (2013) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.12076 · Cited by 105
Self-citation
Obesity Epidemic Entrepreneurs: Types, Practices and Interests
Monaghan, L. F., Hollands, R. G., & Prtichard, G. (2010) · Body & Society · doi:10.1177/1357034x10364769 · Cited by 99
“This change of name is unsurprising since there is a common and scientifically supported understanding that diets are ‘not the answer’ (Mann et al., 2007) to the ‘obesity problem’.”
Background
Differentiating between successful and unsuccessful dieters. Validity and reliability of the Perceived Self-Regulatory Success in Dieting Scale
Meule, A., Papies, E. K., & Kübler, A. (2012) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2012.01.028 · Cited by 94
Intuitive eating is connected to self-reported weight stability in community women and men
Tylka, T. L., Calogero, R. M., & Daníelsdóttir, S. (2020) · Eating Disorders · doi:10.1080/10640266.2019.1580126 · Cited by 95
“While rigid control is discouraged in ED prevention and treatment for non-higher weight individuals, it is often advocated for higher-weight individuals (Mann et al., 2007), and flexible control is integrated in select ED prevention, treatment, and public health programs (Stice, Rohde, & Shaw, n.”
Background
Intuitive eating is inversely associated with body weight status in the general population‐based NutriNet‐Santé study
Camilleri, G. M., Méjean, C., Bellisle, F., Andreeva, V. A., Kesse‐Guyot, E., Herçberg, S., & Péneau, S. (2016) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.21440 · Cited by 109
“Weight loss programs based on energy restriction continue to flourish despite evidence of their limited benefits in the long term and the associated psychological and physiological adverse effects (11,12).”
Background
Role of Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Receptor Agonists in Achieving Weight Loss and Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes in People With Overweight and Obesity
Michos, E. D., López-Jiménez, F. A., & Gulati, M. (2023) · Journal of the American Heart Association · doi:10.1161/jaha.122.029282 · Cited by 97
Healthy dining. Subtle diet reminders at the point of purchase increase low-calorie food choices among both chronic and current dieters
Papies, E. K., & Veling, H. (2012) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2012.10.025 · Cited by 87
“Indeed, successful weight loss and dieting behavior is very difficult to maintain in the long term, and particularly when one is confronted with attractive food cues (Lowe et al., 2006; Mann et al., 2007; Thomas, Doshi, Crosby, & Lowe, 2011).”
Background
Adipose Tissue Macrophage Polarization in Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity
Ruggiero, A. D., Key, C.-C. C., & Kavanagh, K. (2021) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.625331 · Cited by 93
“Despite the number and variety of deployed weight-loss interventions, very few overweight or obese patients maintain weight loss over time, and globally, the number of obese individuals continues to increase (5).”
Background
Dieting, overweight, and obesity: Self-regulation in a food-rich environment.
Stroebe, W. (2008) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/11753-000 · Cited by 92
What Should You Know about Mindful and Intuitive Eating?
Mathieu, J. J. (2009) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.023 · Cited by 89
“” Another study published in 2007 by CLA researchers analyzed the reults of 31 long-term diet studies and iscovered that in each of the studies, ne third to two thirds of the subjects ad gained back more weight than hey had lost (5).”
Background
Predicting Weight Loss and Maintenance in Overweight/Obese Pediatric Patients
Wiegand, S., Keller, K., Lob‐Corzilius, T., Pott, W., Reinehr, T., Röbl, M., Stachow, R., Tuschy, S., Weidanz, I., Widhalm, K., et al. (2014) · Hormone Research in Paediatrics · doi:10.1159/000368963 · Cited by 88
Managing obesity in people with type 2 diabetes
Grant, B., Sandelson, M., Agyemang-Prempeh, B., & Zalin, A. (2021) · Clinical Medicine · doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0370 · Cited by 104
Obesity discourse and fat politics: research, critique and interventions
Monaghan, L. F., Colls, R., & Evans, B. (2013) · Critical Public Health · doi:10.1080/09581596.2013.814312 · Cited by 95
Prescribing Physical Activity: Applying the ACSM Protocols for Exercise Type, Intensity, and Duration Across 3 Training Frequencies
Westcott, W. L., Winett, R. A., Annesi, J. J., Wojcik, J. R., Anderson, E. S., & Madden, P. J. (2009) · The Physician and Sportsmedicine · doi:10.3810/psm.2009.06.1709 · Cited by 92
Women's higher health risks in the obesogenic environment: a gender nutrition approach to metabolic dimorphism with predictive, preventive, and personalised medicine
Shapira, N. (2013) · The EPMA Journal · doi:10.1186/1878-5085-4-1 · Cited by 90
“This may be related to the peak tendency toward weight gain occurring around 50 years of age [57], associated with higher rates of gain [58], difficulty maintaining body weight [59], and tendency toward weight regain following weight loss diets, which is highly predictive of later risk [60].”
Background
Variation in the Oral Processing of Everyday Meals Is Associated with Fullness and Meal Size; A Potential Nudge to Reduce Energy Intake?
Ferriday, D., Bosworth, M. L., Godinot, N., Martin, N., Forde, C. G., van den Heuvel, E., Appleton, S., Moss, F. M., Rogers, P. J., & Brunstrom, J. M. (2016) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu8050315 · Cited by 91
“of this advice, most attempts to reduce body weight are either unsuccessful or weight that has been lost is regained over time [11,12].”
Background
Culture, health, and bigotry: How exposure to cultural accounts of fatness shape attitudes about health risk, health policies, and weight-based prejudice
Frederick, D. A., Saguy, A. C., & Gruys, K. (2015) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.031 · Cited by 86
The Complicated Relationship between Dieting, Dietary Restraint, Caloric Restriction, and Eating Disorders: Is a Shift in Public Health Messaging Warranted?
Stewart, T. M., Martin, C. K., & Williamson, D. A. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19010491 · Cited by 96
“During the early 2000s, papers [13] and books [14] provided cautionary warnings about the potential harms that might be derived from dietary restriction and weight management.”
Background
Through the eyes of dieters: Biased size perception of food following tempting food primes
van Koningsbruggen, G. M., Stroebe, W., & Aarts, H. (2010) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2010.10.012 · Cited by 86
“Although many people try to control their body weight by restricting food intake, most fail in the long term (Mann et al., 2007).”
Background
Cardiovascular effects of bariatric surgery
Beamish, A. J., Olbers, T., Kelly, A. S., & Inge, T. H. (2016) · Nature Reviews Cardiology · doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2016.162 · Cited by 84
Weight Cycling and Its Cardiometabolic Impact
Rhee, E.-J. (2017) · Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome · doi:10.7570/jomes.2017.26.4.237 · Cited by 85
Can mindfulness address maladaptive eating behaviors? Why traditional diet plans fail and how new mechanistic insights may lead to novel interventions
Brewer, J. A., Ruf, A., Beccia, A. L., Essien, G. I., Finn, L. M., Lutterveld, R. V., & Mason, A. E. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01418 · Cited by 82
From Theory to Policy: Reducing Harms Associated with the Weight-Centered Health Paradigm
O’Reilly, C., & Sixsmith, J. (2012) · Fat Studies · doi:10.1080/21604851.2012.627792 · Cited by 82
“This is an especially important point given the difficulty in sustaining long-term weight loss (Mann et al., 2007) and the harm that may result from the pursuit of weight loss at the individual level (e.g., eating disorders and weight cycling; Bacon and Aphramor, 2011).”
Background
Effects of exercise and restrained eating behaviour on appetite control
Martins, C., Robertson, M. D., & Morgan, L. (2008) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665108005995 · Cited by 85
“In a recent comprehensive analysis of thirty-one long-term studies of the effect of energy restriction on weight loss it was found that despite an initial 5–10% weight loss in the first 6 months of dieting one-third to two-thirds of the subjects regained more weight than they had originally lost within 4–5 years((48)).”
Background
DOHaD in science and society: emergent opportunities and novel responsibilities
Penkler, M., Hanson, M. A., Biesma, R. G., & Müller, R. (2018) · Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease · doi:10.1017/s2040174418000892 · Cited by 88
“Many people who are classified as overweight or obese have already undergone numerous unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, which is in line with recent scientific evidence against the long-term efficacy of diets.(35) Yet, they are still often held responsible, blamed and shamed for being overweight as individuals, fo…”
Implementation intentions as goal primes: Boosting self‐control in tempting environments
van Koningsbruggen, G. M., Stroebe, W., Papies, E. K., & Aarts, H. (2011) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.799 · Cited by 79
“However, even though chronic dieters (i.e., restrained eaters; Herman & Polivy, 1980) continuously monitor their eating behavior and are highly motivated to restrict calorie intake, many fail in the long term (Mann et al., 2007).”
Volixibat in adults with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: 24-week interim analysis from a randomized, phase II study
Newsome, P. N., Palmer, M., Freilich, B., Sheikh, M. Y., Sheikh, A., Sarles, H., Herring, R., Mantry, P., Kayali, Z., Hassanein, T., et al. (2020) · Journal of Hepatology · doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2020.03.024 · Cited by 80
Why Fat is a Feminist Issue
Saguy, A. C. (2011) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-011-0084-4 · Cited by 88
Slim chance for permanent weight loss.
Rothblum, E. D. (2018) · Archives of Scientific Psychology · doi:10.1037/arc0000043 · Cited by 79
“In 2007, the American Psychologist, sent to all members of the American Psychological Association, published an article entitled “Medicare’s Search for Effective Obesity Treatments: Diets Are Not the Answer” (Mann et al., 2007).”
BackgroundInfluential
A synthesis of qualitative research on overweight and obese people's views and experiences of weight management
Garip, G., & Yardley, L. (2011) · Clinical Obesity · doi:10.1111/j.1758-8111.2011.00021.x · Cited by 80
“A particularly interesting finding from the qualitative literature was the tension between participants’ desire and need for the structure and social support provided by weight management interventions and the risks this posed in terms of loss of autonomy and dependence on the programme; finding the right balance betw…”
Background
Eat it or beat it. The differential effects of food temptations on overweight and normal-weight restrained eaters
Ouwehand, C., & Papies, E. K. (2010) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2010.04.009 · Cited by 78
“Once they have stopped dieting, many people may even regain more weight than they initially lost (Mann et al., 2007).”
Efficacy of the attention control training program on reducing attentional bias in obese and overweight dieters
Bazzaz, M. M., Fadardi, J. S., & Parkinson, J. A. (2016) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.08.114 · Cited by 81
Should bariatric surgery be performed in adolescents?
Beamish, A. J., & Reinehr, T. (2017) · European Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1530/eje-16-0906 · Cited by 79
Eating Disorders: An Evolutionary Psychoneuroimmunological Approach
Rantala, M. J., Luoto, S., Krama, T., & Krams, I. A. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02200 · Cited by 77
What a body can do: Rethinking body functionality through a feminist materialist disability lens
Rice, C. M., Riley, S. C. E., LaMarre, A., & Bailey, K. A. (2021) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.03.014 · Cited by 74
Deutsche Übersetzung und Validierung der Yale Food Addiction Scale
Meule, A., Vögele, C., & Kübler, A. (2012) · Diagnostica · doi:10.1026/0012-1924/a000047 · Cited by 83
“Weiterhin wird angenommen, dass Zielkonflikte, wie sie bei gleichzeitigen Annäherungs- und Vermeidungstendenzen (beispielsweise bei Essanfällen und gleichzeitiger Angst vor einer Gewichtszunahme) auftreten, das BIS aktivieren, was in erhöhter Ängstlichkeit, Erregung und einer Ausrichtung hin zu Vermeidung resultiert (…”
BackgroundInfluential
Pharmacotherapy for obesity management in adults: 2025 clinical practice guideline update
Pedersen, S. D., Manjoo, P., Dash, S., Jain, A., Pearce, N., & Poddar, M. (2025) · Canadian Medical Association Journal · doi:10.1503/cmaj.250502 · Cited by 78
Tackling overweight and obesity: does the public health message match the science?
Hafekost, K., Lawrence, D. M., Mitrou, F., O’Sullivan, T. A., & Zubrick, S. R. (2013) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-41 · Cited by 74
“This is supported by the existing literature, which has shown that early weight loss, achieved by energy restriction and increased activity, is rarely maintained over the long term [32,33].”
Result
Health at Every Size College Course Reduces Dieting Behaviors and Improves Intuitive Eating, Body Esteem, and Anti-Fat Attitudes
Humphrey, L., Clifford, D. E., & Morris, M. N. (2015) · Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2015.01.008 · Cited by 71
Who likes it more? Restrained eaters’ implicit attitudes towards food
Papies, E. K., Stroebe, W., & Aarts, H. (2009) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2009.07.001 · Cited by 70
“Once they have stopped dieting, many dieters may even regain more weight than they initially lost (Mann et al., 2007).”
Background
Is Obesity Our Genetic Legacy?
Blakemore, A. I. F., & Froguel, P. (2008) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2008-1676 · Cited by 71
“Long term, almost no one can maintain significant weight loss after dieting (19) because eating behavior is under neuroendocrine control, and intake cannot be permanently repressed by conscious effort.”
Background
Too tempting to resist? Past success at weight control rather than dietary restraint determines exposure-induced disinhibited eating
Houben, K., Nederkoorn, C., & Jansen, A. T. M. (2012) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2012.07.004 · Cited by 69
“Maintaining a healthy weight and reducing one’s body weight over an extended period of time, however, seems difficult for most people (e.g., Jeffery et al., 2000; Mann et al., 2007; Wing & Phelan, 2005).”
Background
Dieting: proxy or cause of future weight gain?
Lowe, M. R. (2015) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/obr.12252 · Cited by 68
Psychometric evaluation of the German version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 in a community sample
Gisch, U. A., & Warschburger, P. (2017) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2017.06.018 · Cited by 68
An evaluation of liraglutide including its efficacy and safety for the treatment of obesity
Lin, C.-H., Shao, L., Zhang, Y.-M., Tu, Y.-J., Zhang, Y., Tomlinson, B., Chan, P., & Liu, Z. (2020) · Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1695779 · Cited by 65
“Changes in diet, physical activity and modifications of behavior are the cornerstones of weight management, but the weight loss achieved by these modifications in lifestyle alone is usually limited and not satisfactorily maintained in the long term unless intensive behavioral therapy is given [7,8].”
Background
Análise das diretrizes brasileiras de obesidade: patologização do corpo gordo, abordagem focada na perda de peso e gordofobia
Paim, M. B., & Kovaleski, D. F. (2020) · Saúde e Sociedade · doi:10.1590/s0104-12902020190227 · Cited by 66
Group dialectical behavior therapy adapted for obese emotional eaters; a pilot study.
Roosen, M. A., Safer, D. L., Adler, S., Cebolla, A., & van Strien, T. (2012) · PubMed · doi:10.3305/nh.2012.27.4.5843 · Cited by 66
“However, obesity is wellknown as being difficult to treat; calorie restricting diets, even when combined with behavioural techniques and exercise, seldom result in lasting weight loss.(3,4,5) A meta-analysis on the long-term effectiveness of calorie restricting diets showed that between one third and two thirds of the…”
Background
Relations of self-regulation and self-efficacy for exercise and eating and BMI change: A field investigation
Annesi, J. J., & Gorjala, S. (2010) · BioPsychoSocial Medicine · doi:10.1186/1751-0759-4-10 · Cited by 66
“Background Results of standard weight-loss treatments have been disappointing [1].”
Background
Changes in Leptin Signaling by SOCS3 Modulate Fasting-Induced Hyperphagia and Weight Regain in Mice
Pedroso, J. A. B., Silveira, M. A., Lima, L. B., Furigo, I. C., Zampieri, T. T., Ramos-Lobo, A. M., Buonfiglio, D. D. C., Teixeira, P. D. S., Frazão, R., & Donato, J. (2016) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2016-1038 · Cited by 66
The effect of liquid meal replacements on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight/obese individuals with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Noronha, J. C., Nishi, S. K., Braunstein, C. R., Khan, T. A., Blanco Mejia, S., Kendall, C. W. C., Kahleová, H., Rahelić, D., Salas-Salvadó, J., Leiter, L. A., et al. (2019) · Diabetes Care · doi:10.2337/dc18-2270 · Cited by 65
“achieved by restricting food intake in the short-term, weight is typically regained over the long-term (39).”
Background
Obesity - an indication for GLP-1 treatment? Obesity pathophysiology and GLP-1 treatment potential
Torekov, S. S., Madsbad, S., & Holst, J. J. (2011) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2011.00860.x · Cited by 65
“Almost no one can maintain significant weight loss after dieting (89) and as the absolute number of obese individuals is projected to reach more than one billion obese in near future (1), with subsequent huge impacts on the public healthcare expenses (2) serious interventions are needed to supplement lifestyle changes.”
Background
How dieting makes some fatter: from a perspective of human body composition autoregulation
Dulloo, A. G., Jacquet, J., & Montani, J.-P. (2012) · Proceedings of the Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665112000225 · Cited by 79
“With studies of the long-term outcomes of energy-restricting diets showing that at least one-third of dieters regain more weight than they lost((8)), together with population groups as diverse as obese and lean, young and old, sedentary and athletes attempting to lose weight on some form of diet therapy((4,5)), there…”
Background
Prevalence and Predictors of Weight-Loss Maintenance in a Biracial Cohort
Phelan, S., Wing, R. R., Loria, C. M., Kim, Y., & Lewis, C. E. (2010) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.08.008 · Cited by 63
Intake of energy is best predicted by overeating tendency and consumption of fat is best predicted by dietary restraint: A 4-year follow-up of patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes
van Strien, T., & de Laar, F. A. V. (2007) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2007.08.005 · Cited by 63
Who diets? Most people and especially when they worry about food
de Ridder, D. T. D., Adriaanse, M. A., Evers, C., & Verhoeven, A. A. C. (2014) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2014.05.011 · Cited by 62
“, Wadden, Foster, & Letizia, 1994), the majority of studies show that dieting is often ineffective in the long term (Heatherton, Mahemedi, Striepe, Field, & McGree, 1997; Mann et al., 2007) and may even lead to maladaptive eating patterns such as binge eating or eating pathology (Stice, Presnell, Groesz, & Shaw, 2005).”
Influential
Competing Motivational Discourses for Weight Loss: Means to Ends and the Nexus of Beauty and Health
Kwan, S. (2009) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732309343952 · Cited by 66
“It is well known that diets more often than not fail in the long run; successful weight loss is usually followed by weight regained (Mann et al., 2007).”
Background
Body mass index is just a number: Conflating riskiness and unhealthiness in discourse on body size
Gutin, I. (2021) · Sociology of Health & Illness · doi:10.1111/1467-9566.13309 · Cited by 61
Colourful = healthy? Exploring meal colour variety and its relation to food consumption
König, L. M., & Renner, B. (2017) · Food Quality and Preference · doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2017.10.011 · Cited by 61
“Many diet programs have been shown to be devoid of bene ﬁ cial long-term e ﬀ ects (Mann et al., 2007), possibly due to shortcomings like a focus on restrictions or complex set of rules (Freedman, King, & Kennedy, 2001; Hession, Rolland, Kulkarni, Fig.”
The Negative and Bidirectional Effects of Weight Stigma on Health
Major, B., Tomiyama, J., & Hunger, J. M. (2017) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190243470.013.27 · Cited by 63
“Most evidence suggests that although temporary weight loss may be achieved, long- term maintenance of weight loss is unlikely (Mann et al., 2007; Tomiyama, Ahlstrom, & Mann, 2013).”
Background
Human Rights Casualties from the “War on Obesity”: Why Focusing on Body Weight Is Inconsistent with a Human Rights Approach to Health
O’Hara, L., & Gregg, J. (2012) · Fat Studies · doi:10.1080/21604851.2012.627790 · Cited by 60
“Vast amounts of time, energy, and money are spent attempting to achieve a “healthy weight” through dieting, although 95% of diets fail miserably (Mann et al., 2007) and the notion of “permanent weight loss” is regarded as an oxymoron (Gaesser, 2009).”
Background
Blogging for weight loss: personal accountability, writing selves, and the weight‐loss blogosphere
Leggatt‐Cook, C., & Chamberlain, K. (2011) · Sociology of Health & Illness · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2011.01435.x · Cited by 60
Successful and unsuccessful restrained eating. Does dispositional self-control matter?
Keller, C., & Siegrist, M. (2013) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.11.019 · Cited by 59
Intuitive Eating: Associations with Physical Activity Motivation and BMI
Gast, J. A., Nielson, A. C., Hunt, A. T., & Leiker, J. J. (2014) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/ajhp.130305-quan-97 · Cited by 73
“To conclude, previous research has shown how restrictive eating can negatively impact individuals psychologically, physically, and emotionally.(5,6,11) It has also been shown that individuals who practice an intuitive style of eating tend to be healthier psychologically and physically.”
Result
Intuitive eating: an emerging approach to eating behavior.
Cadena-Schlam, L., & López‐Guimerà, G. (2014) · PubMed · doi:10.3305/nh.2015.31.3.7980 · Cited by 58
Effects of competing news media frames of weight on antifat stigma, beliefs about weight and support for obesity-related public policies
Frederick, D. A., Saguy, A. C., Sandhu, G., & Mann, T. L. (2015) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.195 · Cited by 58
Self-citation
Successful restrained eating and trait impulsiveness
van Koningsbruggen, G. M., Stroebe, W., & Aarts, H. (2012) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2012.09.016 · Cited by 58
"The solution needs to be complex."Obese adults' attitudes about the effectiveness of individual and population based interventions for obesity
Thomas, S. L., Lewis, S. C., Hyde, J., Castle, D. J., & Komesaroff, P. A. (2010) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-420 · Cited by 60
The Unequal Weight of Discrimination
Mason, K. (2012) · Social Problems · doi:10.1525/sp.2012.59.3.411 · Cited by 58
Practical Strategies for Engaging Individuals With Obesity in Primary Care
Kahan, S. I. (2018) · Mayo Clinic Proceedings · doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.01.006 · Cited by 60
A systematic review of controlled interventions to reduce overweight and obesity in people with schizophrenia
Hjorth, P., Davidsen, A. S., Kilian, R., & Skrubbeltrang, C. (2014) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.12245 · Cited by 57
“Studies among the general population testing short-term interventions for weight reduction have uncertain effects in the long run as lifestyle changes can be maintained in a study period of a few months, but are difficult to continue over longer periods of time (40).”
Background
Benefits of moderate weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes
Fujioka, K. (2009) · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · doi:10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01155.x · Cited by 56
“Unfortunately, standard dietary and exercise interventions to control weight may be difficult to maintain over time [23], and weight loss is usually more moderate in practice.”
Background
Lipoedema – myths and facts, Part 5
Bertsch, T., Erbacher, G., Corda, D., Damstra, R. J., van Duinen, K., Elwell, R., Smeenge, J., Faerber, G., Fetzer, S., Fink, J. M., et al. (2020) · Phlebologie · doi:10.1055/a-1012-7670 · Cited by 57
Effect of calorie restriction on subjective ratings of appetite
Anton, S. D., Han, H., York, E., Martin, C. K., Ravussin, É., & Williamson, D. A. (2009) · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · doi:10.1111/j.1365-277x.2008.00943.x · Cited by 56
“Most individuals, however, are unable to sustain weight losses induced through reductions in energy intake (Mann et al., 2007), possibly due to compensatory mechanisms that signal the body to increase food intake or decrease energy expenditure in response to weight loss.”
Background
Framing messages about weight discrimination: impact on public support for legislation
Puhl, R. M., Heuer, C. A., & Sarda, V. (2010) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2010.194 · Cited by 56
Weight Loss and the Prevention of Weight Regain: Evaluation of a Treatment Model of Exercise Self-Regulation Generalizing to Controlled Eating
Annesi, J. J., Johnson, P. H., Tennant, G. A., Porter, K. J., & McEwen, K. L. (2016) · The Permanente Journal · doi:10.7812/tpp/15-146 · Cited by 61
Scientific Weightism: A View of Mainstream Weight Stigma Research Through a Feminist Lens
Calogero, R. M., Tylka, T. L., & Mensinger, J. L. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-32141-7_2 · Cited by 59
How dieting might make some fatter: modeling weight cycling toward obesity from a perspective of body composition autoregulation
Jacquet, P., Schütz, Y., Montani, J., & Dulloo, A. G. (2020) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/s41366-020-0547-1 · Cited by 57
“With studies of the long-term outcomes showing that at least onethird of dieters regain more weight than they lost [2], together with prospective studies indicating that dieting— whether in adults [3–11], adolescents [12–16] or children [17–19]—predicts future weight gain and obesity, there is”
Background
Behavioral weight loss and maintenance: a 25-Year research program informing innovative programming
Annesi, J. J. (2022) · The Permanente Journal · doi:10.7812/tpp/21.212 · Cited by 54
Pharmacotherapy for obesity: moving towards efficacy improvement
Coutinho, W. F., & Halpern, B. (2024) · Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome · doi:10.1186/s13098-023-01233-4 · Cited by 64
“A meta-analysis of 14 different intervention trials assessing the use of diet and exercise for weight management showed that most patients regained most weight lost after a follow-up from 4 to 7 years [16].”
Method
Validity of claims made in weight management research: a narrative review of dietetic articles
Aphramor, L. (2010) · Nutrition Journal · doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-30 · Cited by 56
“There is, however, ample evidence that points to treatment ineffectiveness [16].”
Influential
CLOCK 3111 T/C SNP Interacts with Emotional Eating Behavior for Weight-Loss in a Mediterranean Population
López‐Guimerà, G., Dashti, H. S., Smith, C. E., Sánchez‐Carracedo, D., Ordovás, J. M., & Garaulet, M. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0099152 · Cited by 56
“Lifestyle interventions addressing cognitive behavior and including both dietary and physical activity components are the most effective for the treatment of overweight and obesity [1–3].”
Background
Developing Integrated Clinical Pathways for the Management of Clinically Severe Adult Obesity: a Critique of NHS England Policy
Hazlehurst, J., Logue, J., Parretti, H. M., Abbott, S., Brown, A. C., Pournaras, D. J., & Tahrani, A. A. (2020) · Current Obesity Reports · doi:10.1007/s13679-020-00416-8 · Cited by 61
Effects of Chromium Picolinate on Food Intake and Satiety
Anton, S. D., Morrison, C. D., Cefalu, W. T., Martin, C. K., Coulon, S., Geiselman, P., Han, H., White, C. L., & Williamson, D. A. (2008) · Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1089/dia.2007.0292 · Cited by 54
“Participants were required to (1) be a healthy female without any chronic disease, (2) be a carbohydrate craver, determined by self-reported carbohydrate cravings on 2 or more days of the week, (3) be 18 years of age and 50 years of age, (4) have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 39.”

Authors: Mann, T., Tomiyama, A. J., Westling, E., Lew, A.-M., Samuels, B., & Chatman, J.
Affiliations: University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID: Mann, Traci
Tomiyama, A. Janet
Westling, Erika
Venue: American Psychologist
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2007
Volume: 62
Issue: 3
Pages: 220-233
ISSN: 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
1935-990X
DOI: 10.1037/0003-066x.62.3.220
OpenAlex: W2090491403
Semantic Scholar: 08fd329f4ec6d46d528ad437c1859d734af02396
Cited by: 1,208
References: 83
Citations by year: 2026: 36 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 98 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 86 · 2017: 93 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 71 · 2013: 68 · 2012: 69
FWCI: 44.41
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (R01 63795)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity and Health Practices
Keywords: obesity treatment, Medicare policy, weight regain, weight loss maintenance, long-term outcomes
MeSH terms: Diet Therapy, Medicare, Humans, Obesity, United States, Treatment Outcome

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer.

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks