Internal disinhibition predicts 5-year weight regain in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR)

Revisiting the Compensatory Theory as an explanatory model for relapse in obesity management

Weight regain remains the main challenge in obesity management, and its etiology remains elusive. The aim of the present review was to revise the available evidence regarding the "Compensatory Theory," which is an explanatory model of relapse in obesity treatment, and to propose alternative mechanisms that can contribute to weight regain. It has been proposed, and generally accepted as true, that when a person loses weight the body fights back, with physiological adaptations on both sides of the energy balance equation that try to bring body weight back to its original state: this is the Compensatory Theory. This theory proposes that the increased orexigenic drive to eat and the reduced energy expenditure that follow weight loss are the main drivers of relapse. However, evidence showing a link between these physiological adaptations to weight loss and weight regain is lacking. Here, we propose that the physiological adaptations to weight loss, both at the level of the homeostatic appetite control system and energy expenditure, are in fact a normalization to a lower body weight and not drivers of weight regain. In light of this we explore other potential mechanisms, both physiological and behavioral, that can contribute to the high incidence of relapse in obesity management. More research is needed to clearly ascertain whether the changes in energy expenditure and homeostatic appetite markers seen in reduced-obese individuals are a compensatory mechanism that drives relapse or a normalization towards a lower body weight, and to explore alternative hypotheses that explain relapse in obesity management.

Successful weight loss maintenance: A systematic review of weight control registries

Weight loss maintenance is a major challenge for obesity treatment. Weight control registries can be useful in identifying psychological and behavioural factors that could contribute to better long-term success. The objective of this study is to describe the existing weight control registries and their participants and identify correlates of weight loss maintenance. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed articles published until November 2018 was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies that reported results from weight control registries were considered. Fifty-two articles, corresponding to five registries (the United States, Portugal, Germany, Finland, and Greece), were included. Registries differed in inclusion criteria and procedures. Of 51 identified weight loss and maintenance strategies, grouped in 14 domains of the Oxford Food and Activity Behaviors taxonomy, the following were the most frequently reported: having healthy foods available at home, regular breakfast intake, increasing vegetable consumption, decreasing sugary and fatty foods, limiting certain foods, and reducing fat in meals. Increased physical activity was the most consistent positive correlate of weight loss maintenance. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of information about successful weight loss maintenance obtained from weight control registries. Key common influential characteristics of success were identified, which can inform future prospective studies and weight management initiatives.

Four main barriers to weight loss maintenance? A quantitative analysis of difficulties experienced by obese patients after successful weight reduction

BACKGROUND

Weight maintenance remains to be a challenge for patients in a reduced obese state and it has been recommended to provide them more individualized support. For this purpose it is crucial to understand the barriers patients are experiencing after weight loss. Many have been identified by qualitative studies. We evaluated if a quantitative assessment of patient perspective during weight maintenance can help identify major barriers that refer to actual regain.

METHODS

Follow-up data were analyzed from patients attempting weight maintenances after successful completion of a nonsurgical weight loss and lifestyle intervention for morbid obesity. The data were acquired at mandatory follow-up assessments and included rating of 26 probable difficulties. A principal component analysis was carried out to explore whether these difficulties could be grouped into meaningful factors. Associations with socio-demographics, follow-up time, and weight changes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Data from 88 out of 102 patients were available (baseline BMI 49.5 ± 7.4 kg/m²; 12-month weight loss 24.3 ± 9.6%; follow-up time 1.48 ± 0.6 years). Four solid factors, composed of 21 items and explaining 56% of the variance were extracted and interpreted as 'Hedonic Hunger', 'Mental Distress', 'Binge Eating', and 'Demoralization'. Weight regain (12.4 ± 12%) was correlated with each factor, most closely with 'Mental Distress' (r = 0.38). When controlling for age and follow-up time, 'Binge Eating' was the most important predictor (adj. R² = 0.297).

CONCLUSIONS

A quantitative assessment of patient perspective during the first years after weight loss can help identify valid barriers to weight loss maintenance.

Prevalence and predictors of weight loss maintenance: a retrospective population-based survey of European adults with overweight and obesity

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of weight loss attempts has increased worldwide, although the extent to which sustained weight loss is achieved is unknown. There is insufficient research into weight loss maintenance (WLM) in individuals with overweight or obesity who have recently lost clinically significant amounts of weight (≥5%), particularly in the European general population. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and retrospective predictors of WLM in population-based samples of European adults with overweight or obesity who had made a recently completed weight loss attempt.

METHODS

Participants (N = 2000) in UK, Denmark and Portugal completed an online survey about loss and regain in their most recent completed weight loss attempt, features of their attempt (duration, self-weighing, lapses, strategies), as well as loss of control and binge eating. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine factors retrospectively associated with WLM in those who achieved clinically significant weight loss (n = 1272).

RESULTS

Mean (SD) self-reported weight loss was 9% (8%) and mean (SD) regain was 96.3% (9%) of participants' start weight. Twenty-three percent of the total sample had maintained weight loss of ≥5% for at least 1 month. Controlling for weight loss and time since attempt, predictors of better WLM were avoidance of a temporary lapse, infrequent/absent loss of control and binge eating, and use of a greater number of dietary strategies for WLM (r²  = 0.338, P < 0.001).

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with recent successful WLM indicate the importance of the continued use of dietary and other strategies for WLM, particularly in the face of a lapse, as well as the need to manage dysfunctional eating behaviours.

Determinants of weight loss maintenance: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Discerning the determinants of weight loss maintenance is important in the planning of future interventions and policies regarding overweight and obesity. We have therefore systematically synthesized recent literature on determinants of weight loss maintenance for individuals with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

With the use of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, prospective studies were identified from searches in PubMed and PsycINFO from 2006 to 2016. We included articles investigating adults with overweight and obesity undergoing weight loss without surgery or medication. Included articles were scored on their methodological quality, and a best-evidence synthesis was applied to summarize the results.

RESULTS

Our search resulted in 8,222 articles of which 67 articles were selected. In total, 124 determinants were identified of which 5 were demographic, 59 were behavioural, 51 were psychological/cognitive and 9 were social and physical environmental determinants. We found consistent evidence that demographic determinants were not predictive of weight loss maintenance. Behavioural and cognitive determinants that promote a reduction in energy intake, an increase in energy expenditure and monitoring of this balance are predictive determinants.

CONCLUSION

This review identifies key determinants in weight loss maintenance. However, more research regarding cognitive and environmental determinants of weight loss maintenance is needed to advance our knowledge on determinants of weight loss maintenance.

Internal disinhibition predicts 5-year weight regain in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR)

Background

Maintenance of weight loss remains elusive for most individuals. One potential innovative target is internal disinhibition (ID) or the tendency to eat in response to negative thoughts, feelings or physical sensations. Individuals high on ID do worse on average in standard behavioural treatment programmes, and recent studies suggest that disinhibition could play a significant role in weight regain.

Purpose

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether ID was associated with weight change over 5 years of follow‐up in the National Weight Control Registry, a registry of individuals who have successfully lost weight and maintained it.

Methods

From the National Weight Control Registry, 5,320 participants were examined across 5 years. Weight data were gathered annually. The disinhibition subscale of the Eating Inventory was used to calculate internal disinhibition and External Disinhibition (ED) and was collected at baseline, year 1, year 3 and year 5. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the weight loss maintained across follow‐up years 1 to 5 using ID and ED as baseline and prospective predictors.

Results

Internal disinhibition predicted weight regain in all analyses. ED interacted with ID, such that individuals who were high on ID showed greater weight regain if they were also higher on ED.

Conclusions

The ID scale could be a useful screening measure for risk of weight regain, given its brevity. Improved psychological coping could be a useful target for maintenance or booster interventions.