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Randomized clinical trial of portion‐controlled prepackaged foods to promote weight loss
Author(s) -
Rock Cheryl L.,
Flatt Shirley W.,
Pakiz Bilgé,
Barkai HavaShoshana,
Heath Dennis D.,
Krumhar Kim C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.21481
Subject(s) - weight loss , medicine , overweight , meal , obesity , randomized controlled trial
Objective Providing portion‐controlled prepackaged foods in a behavioral counseling intervention may promote more weight and fat loss than a standard self‐selected diet. Methods The primary aim was to test whether providing portion‐controlled prepackaged lunch and dinner entrées within a behavioral weight loss intervention promotes greater weight loss at 12 weeks compared to self‐selected foods in adults with overweight/obesity. Other aims were to examine effects on biological factors, fitness, and meal satisfaction. One‐half of those assigned to prepackaged entrées were provided items with a higher protein level (>25% energy) as an exploratory aim. Results Participants ( N = 183) had a baseline weight of 95.9 (15.6) kg (mean [SD]) and BMI of 33.2 (3.5) kg/m 2 . Weight data at 12 weeks were available for 180 subjects. Weight loss for regular entrée, higher protein entrée, and control groups was 8.6 (3.9)%, 7.8 (5.1)%, and 6.0 (4.4)%, respectively ( P < 0.05, intervention vs. control). Intervention participants lost more body fat than controls (5.7 [3.4] vs. 4.4 [3.3] kg, P < 0.05). Conclusions A meal plan incorporating portion‐controlled prepackaged entrées promotes greater weight and fat loss than a standard self‐selected diet, with comparable meal satisfaction. Initial weight loss predicts long‐term weight loss so these results are relevant to likelihood of longer term success.