Ten-Year Self-Management of Weight Using a Meal Replacement Diet Plan: Comparison with Matched Controls

Blackburn GL and Rothacker DQ. Obes Res. 2003;11(suppl):A103.Abstract 423-P.

Objective

With the growing incidence of obesity, a strategy for long-term weight management is clearly needed. However, there are sparse data on individuals using any dietary plan for more than two years.

Methods

In a prior 5-year report, we evaluated body weight changes in subjects who had been using a meal replacement diet plan to self-manage weight. The option of using MR products provided at no cost was available to participants in the 5- and 10-year studies. In both cases, subjects received a booklet of meal plans and instructions on how to use the diet plan: 1) replace two regular meals and one of three possible snacks to lose weight; 2) replace one meal and snack daily to maintain weight, or take off regained pounds. We documented body weight twice a year after the third month. Controls (C) from the same communities were matched for body mass index (BMI=kg/m2), age, sex and race.

Results

The original study population consisted of 50 men and 108 women (15% of the community). At 5 years, those on the MR plan had maintained an average weight loss of -5.8± 5.4 kg for men (n=50) and -4.2± 6.9 kg for women (n=84). The control population had respective weight gains of 6.6± 10.2 kg and 6.5± 10.7 kg, an average difference of 11.6 kg. At the 10-year anniversary, we evaluated 44 men and 86 women. The weight change from baseline was -3.1 kg for men and -2.4 kg for women. Controls (n=154) gained +11.4 kg (men) and +12.8 kg (women), a difference of 14.8 kg. These outcomes are consistent with a mean decrease in life expectancy of 50% for controls compared with subjects in the MR group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, continued use of a MR diet plan, starting in 1992, produced sustained weight loss that was significantly below baseline after 10 years (mean weight loss of 2.8 kg). In contrast, matched controls gained a mean of 12.1 kg over the same time period.

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