Volume 24, Issue 1, Page 116

International Journal of Obesity
and related metabolic disorders

January 2000, Volume 24, Issue 1, Pages 116 - 125

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Paper

A descriptive study of weight loss maintenance: 6 and 15 year follow-up of initially overweight adults
S Sarlio-Lähteenkorva¹, A Rissanen² & J Kaprio^1,3
¹Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland     ²Obesity Research Group, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland     ³Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence to: S Sarlio-Lähteenkorva , Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
E-mail: sirpa.sarlio-lahteenkorva@helsinki.fi .

Keywords

overweight;   weight loss maintenance;   health;   behaviour;   well-being

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated with long-term maintenance of weight loss.
DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: We identified initially overweight individuals (body mass index>27 kg/m², n=911) from the nationwide Finnish Twin Cohort and studied those who lost at least 5% of their body weight between 1975 and 1981. Subjects who had maintained weight loss until 1990 (38 men, 17 women) were compared to both re-gainers (28 men, 26 women) and the other overweight subjects in the cohort.
MEASUREMENTS: Self-report data on weight, height, health behaviours and perceived well-being; self-report and register-based data on health status and use of medication.
RESULTS: Only 6% of all overweight individuals lost and maintained at least 5% weight loss. In men weight loss maintenance was associated with a low level of stress and health-promoting behaviours but also with medical problems. Failure to maintain weight loss seemed to be associated with stressful life and past high alcohol intake. In women weight loss maintenance was associated with low initial well-being and health-compromising behaviours that improved after weight loss.
CONCLUSION: Long-term weight loss maintenance is rare. Predictors of weight loss maintenance are different between women and men.
International Journal of Obesity (2000)24, 116-125

Received 3 February 1999; Revised 3 June 1999; Accepted 27 July 1999