Long-term Effects of Rapid Weight Loss vs. Gradual Weight Loss

No significant correlation found between rate of weight loss and rate of weight regain in obese patients…

Most of the guidelines suggest that patients should lose weight gradually as opposed to rapidly losing weight, indicating that patients who had rapid weight loss are more likely to regain the weight. This study looked at effect of the rate of weight loss on the rate of weight regain in obese patients.

This study was a randomized, two phase, non-masked, dietary intervention trial. Purcell and colleagues looked at 204 participants (with 51 men and 153 women) aged 18-70 years and BMI range of 30 to 45 kg/m2. During the phase, participants were randomly assigned to either 12-week rapid weight loss program (N=97) or 36-weeks of gradual weight loss program (N=103). Both groups were aimed to 15% weight loss. After that, patients who lost 12.5% or more of weight were moved onto phase 2, for maintenance diet for 144 weeks. The primary outcome was to look at mean weight loss maintained at end of phase 2, 144 week.

From the phase 1, 76 of the participants in the rapid weight loss program and 51 in the gradual weight loss program were able to reach 12.5% or more weight loss and were able to enter into the phase 2. The total number of participants to complete the phase 2 for rapid weight loss and gradual weight loss were 61 and 43, respectively. Participants from both groups showed regain of weight (rapid weight loss 70·5%, 57·8—83·2 vs. gradual weight loss 71·2% regain, 95% CI 58·1—84·3).

The study results demonstrated that both groups showed similar weight gain at the end of 144 weeks. Overall, this study results suggests that the rate of weight does not have any effect on rate of weight regain.

Practice Pearls:

• This study looked if there is any correlation between rate of weight loss and rate of weight regain in obese patients, comparing two groups of rapid weight loss and gradual weight loss and their weight gain after 144 weeks.
• The study showed similar results of weight regain in patients who were in rapid weight loss program and gradual weight loss program.

Purcell, Katrina, et al “The effect of rate of weight loss on long-term weight management: a randomised controlled trial.” Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014;doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70200-1.