(RxWiki News) Countless studies have evaluated specific interventions to manage weight. But a new study may have found an intervention that will effectively prevent weight gain.
Weight gain is common through adulthood, and previous interventions have not been proven successful in preventing weight gain in this population.
For the current study, researchers evaluated 599 individuals, who they divided into three groups: control, self-regulation small changes and self-regulation large changes. Both self-regulation groups were taught to weigh themselves daily. The participants were followed for three years.
Study patients could then make specific changes to maintain their weight (self-regulation). One group was taught to make small changes, which meant increasing physical activity and reducing food intake by about 100 calories a day. The other group was taught to make large changes. Large changes meant this group was to lose between 5 and 10 pounds beforehand to counter future weight gain.
Both self-regulation interventions appeared effective in reducing weight gain and, therefore, reducing obesity risk, these researchers found.
These researchers noted that these weight-management interventions should be the subject of further research.
This study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The National Institutes of Health funded this research. One of the study authors is a member of the scientific advisory board for Weight Watcher’s International.
