Randomised controlled trial of four commercial weight loss programmes in the UK: initial findings from the BBC “diet trials”

Truby, Helen; Baic, Sue; deLooy, Anne; Fox, Kenneth R; Livingstone, M Barbara E; Logan, Catherine M; Macdonald, Ian A; Morgan, Linda M; Taylor, Moira A; Millward, D Joe

doi:10.1136/bmj.38833.411204.80

Cited by 285Diet and metabolism studiesObesity, Physical Activity, DietPharmacology and Obesity Treatment

Randomised controlled trial of four commercial weight loss programmes in the UK: initial findings from the BBC “diet trials”

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Truby, Helen, Baic, Sue, deLooy, Anne, Fox, Kenneth R, Livingstone, M Barbara E, Logan, Catherine M, Macdonald, Ian A, Morgan, Linda M +2 more·2006·BMJ

DOI 10.1136/bmj.38833.411204.80PMC PMC1473108

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of four commercial weight loss diets available to adults in the United Kingdom. DESIGN: Six month multicentre randomised unblinded controlled trial. SETTING: Community based sample of otherwise healthy overweight and obese adults. INTERVENTIONS: Dr Atkins' new diet revolution, Slim-Fast plan, Weight Watchers pure points programme, and Rosemary Conley's eat yourself slim diet and fitness plan. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight and body fat changes over six months. RESULTS: All diets resulted in significant loss of body fat and weight over six months. Groups did not differ significantly but loss of body fat and weight was greater in all groups compared with the control group. In an intention to treat analysis, average weight loss was 5.9 kg and average fat loss was 4.4 kg over six months. The Atkins diet resulted in significantly higher weight loss during the first four weeks, but by the end was no more or less effective than the other diets. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically useful weight loss and fat loss can be achieved in adults who are motivated to follow commercial diets for a substantial period. Given the limited resources for weight management in the NHS, healthcare practitioners should discuss with their patients programmes known to be effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trials NCT00327821.

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The weight loss in the smartphone group is comparable to the weight loss achieved in a large multicentered RCT of popular commercial diet programs that reported an average weight loss of -5.9 kg at 6 months across all diets.
“This is comparable to the weight loss achieved in a large multicentered RCT of popular commercial diet programs that reported an average weight loss of -5.9 kg at 6 months across all diets [43].”
From Adherence to a Smartphone Application for Weight Loss Compared to Website and Paper Diary: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (2013) · cites this paper as [43]

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Authors: Truby, H., Baic, S., deLooy, A., Fox, K. R., Livingstone, M. B. E., Logan, C. M., Macdonald, I. A., Morgan, L. M., Taylor, M. A., & Millward, D. J.
Affiliations: University of Surrey (GB)
University of Bristol (GB)
University of Plymouth (GB)
University of Ulster (GB)
University of Nottingham (GB)
Corresponding author: Truby, Helen
ORCID: Truby, Helen
Fox, Kenneth R
Livingstone, M Barbara E
Macdonald, Ian A
Morgan, Linda M
Taylor, Moira A
Millward, D Joe
Venue: BMJ
Publisher: BMJ
Published: 2006-05-23
Volume: 332
Issue: 7553
Pages: 1309-1314
ISSN: 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.38833.411204.80
PMC: PMC1473108
OpenAlex: W2157932996
Cited by: 284
References: 29
Citations by year: 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 16
FWCI: 10.87
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.bmj.org/licenses/tdm/1.0/terms-and-conditions.html (tdm)
Locations: BMJ (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Explore Bristol Research (publishedVersion)
Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
Keywords: weight loss diet, obesity, overweight adults, fat loss, Atkins diet, Weight Watchers, weight management
MeSH terms: Adipose Tissue, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Diet, Reducing, Follow-Up Studies, United Kingdom, Heart Diseases, Humans, Middle Aged, Obesity, Patient Compliance, Television, Weight Loss, Overweight

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Randomised controlled trial of four commercial weight loss programmes in the UK: initial findings from the BBC “diet trials”

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