Behavior Interventions Linked to Reduced Weight Gain
Self-regulation with either small or large behavioral changes can significantly reduce weight gain among young adults, according to a new study.
Obesity is a top health concern for many young adults. Therefore, the researchers aimed to determine whether 2 behavior interventions could reduce weight gain in young adults over a 3-year period.
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For their trial, the researchers recruited 599 participants aged 18 to 35 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 21.0 to 30.0 kg/m2 via mail and email from August 2010 to February 2012.
Participants were randomly separated into 3 groups: control, self-regulation plus small changes, and self-regulation plus large changes. Those in the intervention groups frequently weighed themselves to cue behavior changes.
The small-changes group reduced calorie intake and increased activity by 100 calories a day, whereas the large-changes group focused on losing 2.3 to 4.5 kg initially before trying to control their weight.
After 3 years, participants in the large-changes group lost the most weight: -2.37 kg versus 0.26 kg in the control group and -0.56 kg in the small-changes group.
Participants in both groups significantly reduced the incidence of obesity (8.6% and 7.9% in the large and small changes groups, respectively) compared with those in the control group (16.9%).
“Self-regulation with large or small changes both reduced weight gain in young adults over 3 years relative to control, but the large-changes intervention was more effective,” the researchers concluded.
—Amanda Balbi
Reference:
Wing RR, Tate DF, Espeland MA, et al. Innovative self-regulation strategies to reduce weight gain in young adults: the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) randomized clinical trial [published online May 2, 2016]. JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1236.