Title: Weight loss: slow and steady does not win the race
Abstract: In The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Katrina Purcell and colleagues 1 Purcell K Sumithran P Prendergast LA Bouniu CJ Delbridge E Proietto J The effect of rate of weight loss on long-term weight management: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014; (published online Oct 16.)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70200-1 Google Scholar report the results of a trial showing that weight regain is similar after gradual or rapid weight loss. Their study has implications for people seeking weight loss treatment and professionals who provide such treatment. In this two-part trial done in Australia, 200 obese individuals were randomly assigned to one of two diets in phase 1. The rapid weight loss group used a very low calorie diet (total 450–800 kcal/day) for 12 weeks. The gradual weight loss group used a low calorie diet (reduction in food intake by 400–500 kcal/day) for 36 weeks. Both diets targeted 15% weight loss. At the end of phase 1, participants who achieved a target of ≥12·5% bodyweight loss continued into a 144 week weight maintenance phase (phase 2). The effect of rate of weight loss on long-term weight management: a randomised controlled trialThe rate of weight loss does not affect the proportion of weight regained within 144 weeks. These findings are not consistent with present dietary guidelines which recommend gradual over rapid weight loss, based on the belief that rapid weight loss is more quickly regained. Full-Text PDF
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-12-01
Language: en
Type: letter
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 3
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