Taking Off the Pounds Quickly May Ensure Success

While in some circles “slow and steady wins the race,” that may not be the case with weight loss. Faster weight loss may just provide longer term benefits, such as keeping those extra unwanted pounds off.

In the trial, “Treatment of Obesity in Underserved Rural Settings,” researchers at the University of Florida followed 262 middle-aged women who were considered medically obese. Participants had to commit to a lifestyle change for six months, during which time they were required to consume a low-calorie diet and dramatically increase their physical activity.

After the initial 30 days of the study, each individual was assessed based on their ability to lose weight and put into one of three categories: fast, moderate, slow. Women in the “fast” group lost over 1.5 pounds per week, “moderate” between .5 and 1.5 pounds per week, and “slow” less than .5 pound per week.

Once the mandatory six months was achieved, participants were monitored for the next 12 months through phone calls and group sessions. At the end of the two-year period, researchers found that those in the “fast” group lost the most weight and were five times more likely than the “slow” group to keep the weight off. Participants in the “moderate” group were three times more likely to keep the pounds at bay.

Study authors, in this month’s International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, stated "Our study provides further evidence that, within the context of lifestyle treatment, losing weight at a fast initial rate leads to greater short-term weight reductions, does not result in increased susceptibility to weight regain, and is associated with larger weight losses and overall long-term success in weight management."

If you are interested in beginning your weight loss now, visit the HealthNews diet pages and test out our Individual Diet Selection tool, which can help find the right diet for you lifestyle.