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Long-term weight losses associated with prescription of higher physical activity goals. Are higher levels of physical activity protective against weight regain?^1,2,3

¹ From the Departments of Health Behavior–Health Education and Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (DFT); the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (RWJ); the Health Partners Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN (NES); and the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Miriam Hospital, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI (RRW)

² Supported by National Institutes of Health grants no. HL41330 (to RRW) and no. HL41332 (to RWJ).

³ Address reprint requests to DF Tate, Departments of Health Behavior–Health Education and Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Rosenau 313, CB 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440. E-mail: dtate{at}unc.edu.

	ABSTRACT

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Background:High levels of exercise may be necessary for long-term maintenance of weight loss.

Objective:We aimed to determine in a randomized prospective design whether encouraging 2500 kcal physical activity/wk produced greater 30-mo weight losses than did the standard 1000 kcal physical activity/wk prescription.

Design:Overweight adults (n = 202) were randomly assigned to either 18 mo of standard behavioral treatment (SBT) with an exercise goal of 1000 kcal/wk or a high physical activity (HPA) treatment with a goal of 2500 kcal/wk. The HPA treatment included all procedures in the SBT plus encouragement to recruit 1–3 exercise partners and small-group counseling with an exercise coach. Participants were followed for 30 mo.

Results:The HPA group achieved significantly greater exercise levels and weight losses than did the SBT group at 12 and 18 mo (P < 0.01). Weight losses did not differ significantly at 30 mo: 0.90 ± 8.9 and 2.86 ± 8.6 kg for the SBT and HPA groups, respectively (P = 0.16). At 30 mo, average exercise levels no longer differed significantly between groups (1390 and 1696 kcal/wk, respectively; P > 0.10). Participants sustaining high exercise levels (>2500 kcal/wk) for 30 mo had significantly (P < 0.001) greater 30-mo weight loss than did those exercising less (12 ± 8.8 and 0.8 ± 8.1 kg, respectively).

Conclusions:Although participants in the HPA group sustained the 2500-kcal activity goal during the 18-mo treatment, activity declined once treatment ended, which resulted in no between-group differences in activity or weight loss at 2.5 y. Participants who reported continuing to engage in high levels of exercise maintained a significantly larger weight loss.

Key Words: Adults • long-term weight loss • weight maintenance • physical activity • clinical trial • obesity

	INTRODUCTION

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Standard physical activity recommendations in weight-control programs have been 1000 kcal/wk, which is approximately equal to the energy expended in walking 30 min/d and which corresponds to the general physical activity recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for health promotion (1). In 2002, the Institute of Medicine released a report recommending 60 min moderate activity/d for weight loss (2), and the 2005 Dietary Guidelines now include a similar goal of 60 min activity/d for weight loss (3). Sixty minutes of moderate activity corresponds to 2100 kcal activity/wk, or roughly twice that typically recommended in behavioral weight-control programs (4).

Recognition that more exercise may be necessary for promoting long-term weight control after weight loss has emerged during the past decade. Several weight control studies examining weight loss in participants achieving high or low activity levels have found better long-term weight loss among high exercisers (5-8). Further evidence of the role of high levels of exercise in long-term weight maintenance has been accumulating from a large cross-sectional study of long-term weight maintainers, the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR). Successful weight losers in the NWCR report an activity level of 2800 kcal/wk, an amount almost 3 times that once recommended during weight loss treatment (9).

The current study was designed to determine, in a randomized prospective design, whether encouraging high levels of physical activity—ie, 2500 kcal/wk—during a behavioral weight-loss program would result in greater short-term (12–18 mo) and long-term (30-mo) weight losses than were seen in a group receiving standard behavior therapy—ie, 1000 kcal/wk. It was hypothesized that participants in the high physical activity (HPA) group would achieve higher levels of physical activity than those in the standard behavior therapy (SBT) group and also that the HPA group would achieve greater short- and long-term weight losses.

The short-term weight losses during the 18-mo treatment phase of this study were reported previously (10). The subjects randomly assigned to the HPA treatment (2500 kcal/wk) reported performing a significantly higher level of exercise at 6, 12, and 18 mo than did those in the SBT group. Weight losses were also significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the HPA group than in the SBT group at 12 and 18 mo, which indicated that recommending higher levels of physical activity during treatment can improve weight losses in the short term. This report focuses on the long-term follow-up of physical activity and weight outcomes 30 mo after randomization, or 1 y after the 18-mo treatment program ended.

	SUBJECTS AND METHODS

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Subjects
A total of 202 subjects were recruited evenly between the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (Minneapolis, MN) and the Miriam Hospital (Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI) through advertisements in local newspapers. Participants were 25–50 y old, 14–32 kg overweight according to actuarial norms, and free of serious medical or psychological disorders. Participants were randomly assigned to the SBT or HPA group. Both treatments involved behavior therapy for obesity conducted in small groups (eg, 10–20 participants) that met weekly during the first 6 mo, biweekly during months 7–12, and monthly during months 13–18. Groups were led by nutritionists, exercise physiologists, or psychologists. Dietary goals were identical in the 2 treatments: 1000 or 1500 kcal/d, depending on initial body weight with 20% of calories from fat.

The difference between the 2 treatments was the prescribed physical activity goal. SBT involved recommendations to initiate a regular physical activity program, gradually building up to an energy expenditure (EE) of 1000 kcal/wk (eg, walking for 30 min/d). The HPA group's exercise goal was 2.5 times that of the SBT group, or an EE equivalent to 2500 kcal/wk (eg, walking 75 min/d). Several strategies were used to promote adherence to the higher exercise goals. HPA group participants were encouraged to invite 1–3 social support partners to participate with them, were assigned an exercise coach, and were given small monetary incentives for achieving 2500 kcal of exercise in a given week. Exercise coaches met with participants as an adjunct to regular standard behavioral treatment for 15–20 min in small groups. Participants in the HPA group were encouraged to reach the 2500-kcal exercise goal by month 6 of the program.

There was no treatment contact with participants after the 18-mo program. All participants were recontacted at month 30 (1 y after the end of the treatment program) and asked to come to the clinic for final assessments. Participants were paid $50 for completing the 30-mo assessment.

Dependent measures
The primary dependent measure was change in body weight, as measured in the clinic with the use of a calibrated scale (Detecto, Webb City, MS) at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 30 mo while the subject wore light street clothes and no shoes. Height was measured with a wall-mounted stadiometer (Perspective, Portage, MI). Physical activity was measured by using a self-report format of the Paffenbarger activity questionnaire (11) to provide an estimate of total EE (in kcal) during the previous week. Dietary intake, used to estimate daily energy intake (EI), was measured by using the Block food-frequency questionnaire (12) at each assessment and was analyzed by using DIETARY ANALYSIS SYSTEM software (version 4.01; National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD).

Statistical analysis
The primary comparisons of interest were between treatment groups at 30 mo. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software (version 13; SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). Continuous dependent variables (ie, weight, total EE, and total EI) were analyzed by using general linear modeling procedures for repeated measurements. For intention-to-treat analyses, participants for whom data were missing at any timepoint were assumed not to have lost any weight, and an approach of carrying the baseline forward was used. EE was not normally distributed, and the data were log transformed before analysis. Between-group comparisons of baseline characteristics, weight change, or change in calories (exercise or diet) at specific endpoints was analyzed by using analysis of variance. Analyses of exercise subgroups controlled for baseline weight and sex.

	RESULTS

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The participants (n = 202) had a mean (±SD) age of 42.2 ± 6.4 y; 58% were female, 43% were college graduates, 80% were white, and the average baseline body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²) was 31.7 ± 2.6 (range: 26–44). There were no significant between-group differences in baseline characteristics (10). At 30 mo, retention of study participants as a proportion of those randomly assigned was 79% (74 of 93) in the SBT group and 77% (84 of 109) in the HPA group. Examination of the baseline characteristics of study completers (n = 158) and study dropouts (n = 44) at 30 mo found no significant differences in body weight, BMI, sex, EI, or EE.

From baseline to 30 mo, weight losses in the SBT and HPA groups were 0.90 ± 8.9 and 2.86 ± 8.6 kg, respectively. These weight changes correspond to a loss of 1% and 3% of initial body weight in the SBT and HPA groups, respectively, and these losses did not differ significantly by treatment. Moreover, no significant differences between groups were seen in weight regain from 18 to 30 mo: the SBT group regained 5.3 ± 7.0 kg, and the HPA group regained 5.9 ± 5.9 kg. At 30 mo, assuming no weight loss for those missing at follow-up, 26% of those randomly assigned achieved a total weight loss of 5%; 12% achieved a total weight loss of 10%, and there was no significant difference by treatment.

The pattern of weight loss over time in those with data at all timepoints (ie, 0, 6, 12, 18, and 30 mo) is shown in Figure 1. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) found a significant time effect (P = 0.001), but the treatment x time interaction was not significant (P = 0.21). The repeated-measures ANOVA using an intent-to-treat approach, assuming no weight change from baseline for those with missing data, found the same pattern of significance.

View larger version (9K): [in this window] [in a new window]   FIGURE 1. Weight by randomized group. •, Standard behavior treatment group (n = 66); , high physical activity group (n = 75). Time effect, P < 0.001; treatment x time interaction, P = 0.21 (repeated-measures ANOVA).

Table 1

Figure 2

View larger version (14K): [in this window] [in a new window]   FIGURE 2. Weight changes by exercise level at 30 mo. ;, <1000 kcal activity/wk (n = 26 M, 51 F); , 1000–2500 kcal activity/wk (n = 16 M, 29 F); , >2500 kcal activity/wk (n = 22 M, 13 F). Main effect of sex, P = 0.04; main effect of exercise group, P = 0.003; sex x exercise group interaction, P = 0.29 (NS). Error bars are ± 1 SD.

Table 2

Figure 3

View larger version (7K): [in this window] [in a new window]   FIGURE 3. Weight for consistently high exercisers (; n = 13) compared with all other participants (•; n = 128). Treatment x time interaction, P = 0.001; time effect, P = 0.001 (repeated-measures ANOVA). Mean weight losses differed significantly (P = 0.001) at 6, 12, 18, and 30 mo after control for baseline weight and sex.

	DISCUSSION

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The failure to achieve greater long-term weight loss in the HPA group at 30 mo likely relates to the failure to maintain higher levels of physical activity 1 y after treatment ended. Although participants randomly assigned to the HPA group were able to sustain their higher exercise during treatment, once the 18 mo treatment ended, their exercise levels dropped. Strategies are needed to help participants maintain high levels of activity over the long-term. Lengthening weight-loss treatment has been shown to improve adherence to prescribed behaviors and to result in better overall weight losses (13-15). The current study included an 18-mo treatment protocol, but even longer periods of treatment in a chronic care model may be necessary to sustain the behaviors necessary for long-term weight regulation. Physical activity maintenance has been promoted through lower-intensity strategies such as mailings and periodic phone calls (16); thus, extending the treatment via print, phone, or e-mail contacts may have helped to maintain the difference between treatment conditions in physical activity and weight loss in the current study. It is also possible that sustaining the long-term behavior changes that are needed for behaviors such as physical activity will require changes to the larger social and environmental context in which these behaviors occur (17).

Higher levels of physical activity were associated in the current study with better long-term weight losses in both men and women, which confirms several earlier studies that reported significant associations between activity levels and weight-loss maintenance (5, 7, 18). It is interesting that overall weight loss from baseline to month 30 and weight regain from month 18 to month 30 did not differ between participants who reported <1000 kcal activity/wk and those reporting 1000–2500 kcal activity/wk at 30 mo. Only exercise expenditures > 2500 kcal/wk were substantially better at promoting long-term weight loss. Specifically, 2.5 y after baseline, participants reporting >2500 kcal activity/wk lost an average of 7 kg from baseline weight, whereas the other 2 groups had average weight losses of < 1 kg. Moreover, those exercising > 2500 kcal/wk regained only 3 kg from month 18 to month 30, whereas those exercising < 250 kcal/wk lost >6 kg. These data suggest that there may be a threshold for physical activity and support the recent Institute of Medicine recommendations (2) for higher levels of physical activity for weight loss maintenance.

Extension of this dose-response analysis to those persons who reported consistently high levels of exercise at every follow-up assessment found an even larger total weight loss (12%) in comparison with all other participants (1%). However, those participants reported not only high physical activity levels but also significant decreases in EI and dietary fat intake. Thus, their successful weight loss probably relates to combined changes in diet and activity, which is consistent with the findings from the National Weight Control Registry, in which participants who are most successful at long-term maintenance of weight loss are maintaining high levels of exercise and following a diet low in calories and fat (19).

Perhaps of greatest interest and concern is the finding that none of the levels of activity attained in this study were effective in totally preventing weight regain. Examination of the most successful participants—those reporting >2500 kcal activity/wk at 6, 12, 18, and 30 mo—found that weight regain was still evident. It should be noted that only 13 participants achieved those consistently high levels of activity. On average, these consistently high exercisers regained 2 kg during the year of follow-up, and only 4 participants maintained their entire weight loss throughout the year. However, the overall weight loss of 12% in these participants is notable and would result in important improvements in health. Furthermore, their regain is less than that in participants with lower levels of activity or less consistent activity. The goal of behavioral programs may thus have to be increasing the magnitude of weight loss achieved during treatment, with acceptance that, even with high activity levels, some weight regain is going to occur.

The study has several major strengths. including the randomized design, multicenter intervention, objective weight data at all follow-up points, long-term treatment and follow-up, and study retention. Limitations include the self-reporting of the behavioral measures. It is not possible to determine consistency of exercise during the entire follow-up period by using any self-reported measure of physical activity. Most self-reported measures and even interviewer-administered recalls capture the activity of the previous week, which may or may not have been typical of weeks between the assessment visits. In addition, we did not consider differences in body composition that could result from different exercise levels.

Taken together, the short- and long-term data have important implications for behavioral weight control programs. The short-term data (10) suggest that behavioral weight control programs can extend weight losses to 18 mo by increasing the exercise recommendations to 60 min/d and providing the support that participants need to achieve this goal. The long-term data suggest that few participants will continue to follow these recommendations once treatment ends. However, those who continue with a high level of activity (>2500 kcal/wk) and a low-fat diet will achieve the best long-term outcomes.

	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 
We are indebted to study coordinators Renee Bright and Carolyn Thorsen and to the study participants.

RRW and RWJ were responsible for the study design; NES and DFT were responsible for data collection; DFT was responsible for writing the manuscript; and all authors contributed to data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript revision. None of the authors had a financial or personal conflict of interest.

	REFERENCES

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