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A dietary and behavioural programme for the treatment of obesity. A 4‐year clinical trial and a long‐term posttreatment follow‐up
Author(s) -
Lantz Helén,
Peltonen Markku,
Ågren Liselotte,
Torgerson Jarl S
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01187.x
Subject(s) - medicine , weight loss , very low calorie diet , obesity , randomized controlled trial , randomization , low calorie diet , surgery , pediatrics
. Lantz H, Peltonen M, Ågren L, Torgerson JS (Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden). A dietary and behavioural programme for the treatment of obesity. A 4‐year clinical trial and a long‐term posttreatment follow‐up. J Intern Med 2003; 254: 272–279. Objectives. To evaluate weight loss maintenance after 4 years of nonpharmacological, nonsurgical obesity treatment, including a very low calorie diet (VLCD), diet and behavioural support. Furthermore, to assess weight development amongst completers and noncompleters beyond the active 4‐year treatment period. Design. Clinical trial. Setting. Two Swedish county hospitals. Subjects. A total of 113 patients were randomized to a 2‐year treatment programme with or without an initial VLCD period. The 87 patients who completed the 2‐year programme were offered the chance to continue a support programme for another 2 years. A total of 55 patients completed the entire 4‐year programme. Interventions. All the patients took part in a comprehensive support programme, including a hypocaloric diet and behavioural support, either as single treatment (non‐VLCD group) or following the VLCD period (VLCD group). Results. Significant 4‐year weight losses were found in both groups, 7.6 ± 12.2 kg (VLCD group) and 6.3 ± 8.5 kg (non‐VLCD group), ( P < 0.01, n.s. between groups). The completers ( n = 55) had maintained a weight loss of 3.3 ± 10.7 kg ( P < 0.05) 8 years after randomization. After 6 years, the noncompleters ( n = 58) had gained 3.2 ± 9.7 kg compared with baseline ( P < 0.05). The difference in weight change between completers and non‐completers was highly significant ( P < 0.01). Conclusions. Highly significant weight losses can be maintained after a 4‐year comprehensive treatment programme, including a hypocaloric diet and behavioural support. An initial VLCD period did not significantly affect the long‐term weight loss. The posttreatment long‐term weight loss was larger amongst completers than amongst patients who did not complete the treatment.