Journal article

The effect of rate of weight loss on long-term weight management: A randomised controlled trial

K Purcell, P Sumithran, LA Prendergast, CJ Bouniu, E Delbridge, J Proietto

Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology | Published : 2014

Abstract

Background: Guidelines recommend gradual weight loss for the treatment of obesity, indicative of a widely held opinion that weight lost rapidly is more quickly regained. We aimed to investigate the effect of the rate of weight loss on the rate of regain in obese people. Methods: For this two phase, randomised, non-masked, dietary intervention trial in a Melbourne metropolitan hospital, we enrolled 204 participants (51 men and 153 women) aged 18-70 years with a BMI between 30 and 45 kg/m2. During phase 1, we randomly assigned (1:1) participants with a block design (block sizes of 2, 4, and 6) to account for sex, age, and BMI, to either a 12-week rapid weight loss or a 36-week gradual programm..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

JP was Chair of the Optifast Medical Advisory Committee for Nestle Healthcare Nutrition Australia Ltd from 2005 to 2010. The study was funded by National Health and Medical Research Council project grant (628748), and Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation (JP). The study was not commercially sponsored, and there were no agreements regarding confidentiality of the data between the sponsor and the authors or their institutions.