Calculating the permanent lifestyle changes required for weight‐loss maintenance

Abstract

Lifestyle changes can successfully induce weight loss in obese individuals, at least temporarily. But there is presently no way to quantitatively estimate the permanent changes of diet or physical activity required to prevent weight regain. Such a tool would be helpful for goal‐setting since obese patients and their physicians could assess whether adherence to the calculated lifestyle change is realistic. To address this issue, we developed a mathematical model to calculate the body weight change arising from a given energy intake change, and conversely, the modification of energy intake required to maintain a particular body weight change. We used data from 8 longitudinal weight loss studies representing 157 subjects with initial body weights ranging from 68‐160 kg and stable weight changes between ‐7 and ‐54 kg. Model calculations closely matched the weight change data (R2 = 0.83, χ2 = 2.1, p < 0.01 for weight changes, R2 = 0.91, χ2 = 0.87, p < 0.0004 for energy intake changes) and also accurately predicted the proportion of weight change resulting from the loss of body fat (R2 = 0.90). Therefore, our model provides the first realistic calculations of lifestyle modifications required for weight loss maintenance. Standard spreadsheet files of the model can be freely downloaded at http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/NIDDKLabs/LBM/lbmHall.htm and can therefore be widely used by physicians and weight management professionals.