Tips for Preventing Weight Re-gain
  by Sue Roberts

Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows that the battle isn't over once the weight is off...maintaining that weight loss can actually be the tough part!

Researchers with the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) recently completed
a study in which they investigated the factors which affect weight re-gain in people who
have lost a substantial amount of weight. (Results were published 6/12 online with the print
article due to appear in the July issue of American Journal of Preventative Medicine.)

The findings were interesting.

All of the 1310 US adult study subjects were individuals initially considered overweight or
obese but who lost at least 10% of their body weight. This amount of weight loss can
result in substantial health benefits, such as reduced risk of diabetes and cardiovascular
disease.

Results showed that weight re-gain was associated with a sedentary lifestyle, i.e., those
who had greater "couch potato-like" habits, losing a greater percentage of initial weight,
shorter time to lose weight, attempts to "control' weight, and not meeting the
recommendations for physical activity.

Due to the type of study design used in this work, it is not fair to say that these factors
cause individuals to re-gain weight. What one can say is that these factors are associated
with failure to maintain weight loss.

If you are interested in this topic, and excellent book to read is Anne Fletcher's Thin for Life.
She interviewed people who have lost weight and kept it off, and shares their stories of
why they were so successful. In addition to an active lifestyle, those who maintained
their weight loss also kept careful track of their weight. If they noticed the number on
the scale increasing, they immediately shifted into “emergency diet mode.” Armed with
these findings, preventing weight re-gain is inevitable!

Copyright August 11, 2007  Sue Roberts, MPH MS RD/CN

As a certified nutritionist and registered dietitan for over 20 years, Sue is passionate
about you becoming your healthiest ever!

Nutrition information you can trust.

Sue Roberts, MPH MS RD/CN
Your Online Nutritionist
PO Box 4354
West Richland, WA 99353
ph: 509.392.2071
fax: 309.401.8759
sue@youronlinenutritionist.com