A Self-Regulation Program for Maintenance of Weight Loss

TLDR: As compared with receiving quarterly newsletters, a self-regulation program based on daily weighing improved maintenance of weight loss, particularly when delivered face-to-face or over the Internet.

Abstract: Background Since many successful dieters regain the weight they lose, programs that teach maintenance skills are needed. We developed a maintenance program based on self-regulation theory and tested the efficacy of delivering the program face to face or over the Internet. Methods We randomly assigned 314 participants who had lost a mean of 19.3 kg of body weight in the previous 2 years to one of three groups: a control group, which received quarterly newsletters (105 participants), a group that received face-to-face intervention (105), and a group that received Internet-based intervention (104). The content of the programs in the two intervention groups was the same, emphasizing daily self-weighing and self-regulation, as was the frequency of contact with the groups. The primary outcome was weight gain over a period of 18 months. Results The mean (±SD) weight gain was 2.5±6.7 kg in the face-to-face group, 4.7±8.6 kg in the Internet group, and 4.9±6.5 kg in the control group, with a significant difference ...