3 Predictors of Successful Weight Loss

The largest published study to date, not surprisingly, showed that the 3 main predictors of success were:

1. The amount of self-reported weekly exercise (minutes per week)
2. The compliance with educational session attendance (just over 30 sessions/year)
3. The number of meal replacement consumed. Weight loss was greater with greater number of servings consumed.

The study, published in Obesity (2009) 17 4, 713–722, assigned over 2500 people into 2 groups. One received an intensive lifestyle interventions (ILI) with educational sessions and meal replacement and the other a currently used diabetic self-education curriculum. The ILI group lost significantly more weight, with improvements in all the markers of weight related problems, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

This, once again, underscores the importance of having a system in place that will keep You motivated and compliant with Your nutrition and exercise plan.