Research on maintenance

Oishii

A lot of what you see quoted in the press about how to maintain a weight loss comes from these studies:

http://nwcr.ws/Research/published research.htm

One weakness of their studies is that their subjects are self-selecting, and so far have condisted of a narrow band of mainly white women, with an average age of 45, and so some of their findings are biased towards that demographic: importance of breakfast and walking being the main form of exercise (not that this reflects 45 year old white women on mfp particularly...).

So, I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if a wider range of maintainers signed up, and where better to find a wide range of maintainers than mfp?

The only qualifications are to be over 18 and have kept at least 30lb off for a year. The form is here:

http://www.nwcronline.com/join.aspx

It would be great if everyone's success stories could spread statistically far beyond mfp.

SJVZEE

You have to have maintained for at least a year, so I can't do it yet, but plan on it next March

JessiesGirls520

This is awesome! I'm going to sign up! 70 pounds almost 3 years.

FrankiesSaysRelax

I wanted to join! Unfortunately I only lost 15 lbs and have been maintaining for 2 yrs.

Oishii

I had assumed it was just for Americans, which is why I didn't sign up before, but it appears to be for everyone. I lost a little over 30lb (15kg=33lb) but then I have chosen not to maintain the whole of that loss, so I'm not a proper candidate really BUT so many people on mfp are, including some people who haven't reached their goals yet.

Oishii

This is awesome! I'm going to sign up! 70 pounds almost 3 years.

Well done :flowerforyou:

nxd10

I am planning on doing that in January which is one year from the date I hit 30 pounds down.

Actually, a colleague of mine is co-author of a series of studies on weight loss and maintenance. Predominantly African American sample 30+. Randomly assigned to weight loss v. control. Followed them in weight loss and also for three years afterwards. Most people did well losing, but 65% of people regained their weight.

The people who regained v. maintained are differentiated almost exactly like those self-selected samples. The biggest thing is that people went back to their old habits when they stopped working at weight loss.

Which is why I plan on logging logging logging and weighing weighing weighing. I may one day have to log less rigorously. But only if I monitor closely to make sure I'm not drifting upwards. Besides - my body will change again and so will my calorie needs.

dorothytd

LOL, would love to help out, but I'm a 45 y/o white woman! Maintaining close to 7 years...

LivingtheLeanDream

dorothytd wrote: »

LOL, would love to help out, but I'm a 45 y/o white woman! Maintaining close to 7 years...

^^this lol...but maintaining for 1 year..oh and I *only* lost 20 lbs so missed the requirements for that as well.

ps I do more than walking for exercise though.

angel7472

been maintaining a 70+ pound loss for just over a year now. Just signed up. Will see where it goes

RaspberryTickleChicken

SJVZEE wrote: »

You have to have maintained for at least a year, so I can't do it yet, but plan on it next March

Ditto

nxd10

Oishii wrote: »

A lot of what you see quoted in the press about how to maintain a weight loss comes from these studies:

http://nwcr.ws/Research/published research.htm

One weakness of their studies is that their subjects are self-selecting, and so far have condisted of a narrow band of mainly white women, with an average age of 45, and so some of their findings are biased towards that demographic: importance of breakfast and walking being the main form of exercise (not that this reflects 45 year old white women on mfp particularly...).

So, I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if a wider range of maintainers signed up, and where better to find a wide range of maintainers than mfp?

The only qualifications are to be over 18 and have kept at least 30lb off for a year. The form is here:

http://www.nwcronline.com/join.aspx

It would be great if everyone's success stories could spread statistically far beyond mfp.

A friend of mine did a really wonderful longitudinal study of people who were randomly assigned different conditions for weight loss. It had several hundred people, and the vast majority were African-American, lower income. She found about the same thing everyone else did. It's easy to lose. It's hard to maintain. People go back to their old habits when they thrill of loss goes away. Exercise helps. Support helps.

But even in her study, 35% of her participants kept the weight off for more then 2 years.

nxd10

BTW - I see I said more than a year ago I was going to join that study because I would have dropped 30 pounds and kept it off a year? I did join it. I've filled out two questionnaires so far. And I still qualify. I find being in it motivating.

Oishii

nxd10 wrote: »

BTW - I see I said more than a year ago I was going to join that study because I would have dropped 30 pounds and kept it off a year? I did join it. I've filled out two questionnaires so far. And I still qualify. I find being in it motivating.

That's great! I had a baby and am back to losing (very slowly) again. When I get there I should look into this again too.

dopeysmelly

I've just put the reminder in my calendar for October 2015!! It'll be a wonderfully motivating target to make sure I actually do maintain (although I'm motivated anyway, so I'm sure I'll keep the weight off).