Kruseman M, et al. – This study contemplated the dietary intake, eating patterns, physical activity and eating behaviors, and gauged the strategies and perceptions of the experience of weight maintenance in weight loss maintainers (weight loss maintenance (WLM) ≥ 10% weight loss maintained for ≥1 year) and in matched controls with a lifetime stable normal weight. An additional burden was brought to light in this trial, exhibiting a link with maintaining weight loss compared to keeping a stable normal weight. The data yielded evidence to devise interventions targeting the difficulty of regulating intake.

Methods

• The scheme of this trial was a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study.
• Volunteers (32) were enrolled by a snowball procedure.
• Diet, physical activity, and eating behaviors were examined via validated questionnaires.
• An inspection was performed of the strategies and experiences during interviews.
• Descriptive coding, thematic analysis (qualitative data) and descriptive analysis and t-tests (quantitative data) were carried out.

Results

• Similar energy and macronutrient consumption was reported by both groups.
• Those in the WLM group displayed higher levels of exercise and scored higher on several dimensions of eating disorders.
• Four themes - ‘food choices,' ‘quantities and portion control,' ‘physical activity', and ‘burden' - emerged from the qualitative data.
• Similar weight maintenance strategies were used by both groups.
• However, those in the WLM group experienced a higher burden, expressing effortful control which was in contrast with the control group's confidence in their internal cues.