Because weight regain often occurs after weight loss, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two support programs (dietician and exercise specialist or nurse-coordinated program) and two diets (high-carbohydrate or high-monounsaturated fat diets) in 174 women who were followed for two years after weight loss (subjects had lost 5% or more of their initial body weight). The average weight loss (about 2 kg) observed after the 2-year follow-up was similar for women in the support programs or diet programs. Cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in women on the high-monounsaturated fat diet than among those on the high-carbohydrate diet. Women on the high-monoinsaturated diet had greater intakes of total fat and saturated fat. No other significant differences in clinical or laboratory measurements were observed between women in the support programs vs. diet programs. These results suggest that a simple and inexpensive nurse-supported program is effective in preventive weight regain. In his editorial Dr. Robert Ross compared results of the study of Dale and colleagues with those of other studies that have performed a weight loss/maintenance program. Most of these previous studies failed to avoid weight regain. He recognized that Dale and colleagues deserve credit for showing that clinically meaningful weight loss can be sustained for a relatively long period in a simple manner.
Documentation centre