The Problem
Nearly two-thirds of US adults are overweight or obese
Together overweight and obesity are the second leading cause of preventable death, primarily through effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes).
Weight loss improves these risk factors, and evidence suggests that benefits persist as long as weight loss is maintained.
Relapse is common after weight loss.
Weight loss is simple—expend more calories than taken in
- Short term “diets”
- Long term education about healthy eating
- Exercise
Weight maintenance is more complex than weight loss
Studies show successful weight maintenance is associated with:
- more initial weight loss
- reaching a self‐determined goal weight
- having a physically active lifestyle (the addition of 275 mins/wk of physical activity was found to help women to sustain a weight loss of more than 10%)
- healthier eating
- control of over‐eating
- self‐monitoring of behaviors
- internal motivation to lose weight
- social support (personal contact works better than online)
- better coping strategies and ability to handle life stress
- self‐efficacy and autonomy
- assuming responsibility in life
- more psychological strength and stability
In one study women who maintained weight loss
- exercised regularly (90%),
- were conscious of their behaviors and used available social support (70%
- confronted problems directly (95%),
- used personally developed strategies to help themselves.
Risk for weight regain
- history of weight cycling
- disinhibited eating
- binge eating
Of women in the study above who regained the weight lost
- did not exercised (66%, )
- ate unconsciously in response to emotions 70%
- did not use available social support (72%)
- did not confronted problems directly (90%)
