If you thought the best way to lose and maintain weight was the slow and steady approach, think again. A new study by Lisa Nackers and colleagues, from the University of Florida in the US, suggests that the key to long-term weight loss and maintenance is to lose weight quickly, not gradually, in the initial stages of obesity treatment.
- The researcher looked specifically at whether losing weight at a slow initial rate results in larger long-term weight reduction and less weight regain than losing weight at a fast initial rate.
- Analyzed data for 262 middle-aged obese women followed a 6-mo lifestyle program
Women split into 3 groups according to how much weight they lost in the first month of the intervention.
- FAST group lost over 1.5lbs per week
- MODERATE group lost between 0.5 to 1.5lbs per week
- SLOW group lost less than 0.5 lbs per week in that first month
People who lost weight FAST:
- Lost more weight overall
- Maintained their weight loss for longer
- Not more likely to put weight back on vs. gradual weight losers
- 5x more likely to achieve the clinically significant 10 % weight loss at 18 mo vs. SLOW group (MODERATE group 3x than SLOW group).
CONCLUSION
Losing weight at a fast initial rate leads to:
- Greater short-term weight reductions
- Does not result in increased susceptibility to weight regain
- Is associated with larger weight losses and overall long-term success in weight management.
Reference:
1. Lisa M. Nackers, Kathryn M. Ross, Michael G. Perri. The Association Between Rate of Initial Weight Loss and Long-Term Success in Obesity Treatment: Does Slow and Steady Win the Race? International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2010; DOI: 10.1007/s12529-010-9092-y
2. Story from Science Daily
- FAST group lost over 1.5lbs per week
- MODERATE group lost between 0.5 to 1.5lbs per week
- SLOW group lost less than 0.5 lbs per week in that first month People who lost weight FAST:
- Lost more weight overall
- Maintained their weight loss for longer
- Not more likely to put weight back on vs. gradual weight losers
- 5x more likely to achieve the clinically significant 10 % weight loss at 18 mo vs. SLOW group (MODERATE group 3x than SLOW group). CONCLUSION
Losing weight at a fast initial rate leads to:
- Greater short-term weight reductions
- Does not result in increased susceptibility to weight regain
- Is associated with larger weight losses and overall long-term success in weight management. Reference:
1. Lisa M. Nackers, Kathryn M. Ross, Michael G. Perri. The Association Between Rate of Initial Weight Loss and Long-Term Success in Obesity Treatment: Does Slow and Steady Win the Race? International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2010; DOI: 10.1007/s12529-010-9092-y
2. Story from Science Daily