Peer counseling works better than technology in supporting those trying to lose weight and keep it off, according to a Johns Hopkins study.
The personal touch added up to an average three pounds less weight gain for those volunteers checked up on by a counselor, according to the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Tuesday.
“It?s almost a given that you can achieve initial weight loss with a variety of methods, but what happens afterwards doesn?t get as much attention,” said Dr. Lawrence Appel, professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Few studies have focused on how to prevent weight regain, which carries frustration and health risks.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including hypertension, osteoarthritis, heart disease and some cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even cutting your weight by a small amount and keeping it off can dramatically improve your health.
Participants in the Hopkins study lost an average of 19 pounds over 11 months, but all regained some weight in the following 30 months. Those assigned to a counselor regained nine pounds on average across race and gender lines.
Counselors called these volunteers monthly and talked for five to 15 minutes about calorie intake, exercise habits and weight-loss strategies. Every four months, they met in person for about an hour.
A second group logged onto a weight-loss Web site loaded with information and tools to track weight, record food diaries and monitor physical activity levels. Bulletin boards provided access to other dieters, and weekly e-mails encouraged them to log in. If they missed more than two weeks, they received automated phone calls to steer them back.
This group regained weight more slowly but ultimately ended up packing on just under 12 pounds, the same as those who received helpful pamphlets and met with a counselor once.
The results may not be applicable to every person looking to lose weight, Appel said. “There aren?t enough dietitians and weight-loss counselors in the world to maintain this kind of personal contact with everyone on a diet.”
