Secret weapon for weight loss?

Recently a researcher from Providence, RI said they found the “secret weapon” against yo-yo dieting.

In a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, people who had previously lost more than 10% of their weight were split into three groups:

* Group 1 received a quarterly newsletter about eating and exercise in the mail.

* Group 2 attended monthly face-to-face meetings.

* Group 3 participated in monthly Internet chat meetings.

Groups 2 and 3 were told to eat breakfast, get an hour of physical activity each day, and weigh themselves daily. They also were required to report their weight each week to the researchers. Then, if they were within three pounds of their starting weight, they received encouraging phone calls and small “green rewards” such as green mints or a dollar bill.

However, if they gained between three and four pounds, they were considered to be in the “yellow” zone and were advised to tweak their eating habits or exercise routine.

I hesitate to even tell you what happened if they fell into the “red” zone by gaining more than five pounds. But, for completeness, here you go.

They were urged to open a “red toolbox” they had been given at the start of the program that included a meal-replacement shake, a pedometer, a diet diary, and a printed copy of their own weight-loss success story. The were also given a chance to get a one-on-one counseling session with one of the researchers.

So here are the dramatic results. After 18 months:
* 72% of Group 1 gained more than five pounds
* 46% of Group 2 gained more than five pounds
* 55% of Group 3 gained more than five pounds

Boy, that sounds like a “secret weapon” to me. I’m sorry, but the results of this study are not good news. With each group, about half or more gained back a bunch of the weight they lost!

I can’t tell you how disappointed I am when I read studies like this one. These researchers shouldn’t be rewarded by getting their study published in a prestigious medical journal. Instead, they should be ridiculed for wasting their time on such a project.

Allen Oelschlaeger
Author of Finally, the Straight Scoop About Weight, Nutrition and Fitness