Adapted from BMJ 2 March 2024
One in four UK adults has obesity and one in three is overweight. These factors increase the rate of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although many people lose weight after starting various types of dietary intervention, they are often dismayed that weight is usually regained.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 249 weight management programmes for adults worldwide was conducted. Intense weight management programmes were compared to less intense or no intervention at all. Intensive programmes included diet and exercise but not medications or surgery.
All trials ran for at least a year after the interventions were completed and some as far as four years afterwards. The average follow up period was 28 months.
Those who had little or no support had lost 2.1kg and those who had had intensive support lost 4.9kg. Those who lost the most weight gained it back the most quickly.
The researchers found that five years after the end of a weight management programme, people who had been offered support still weighed less than those who got little or no support. They also had lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels despite the weight regain.
Diabetes Diet 