The “small changes” intervention encouraged participants to reduce energy intake and increase activity, both by approximately 100 calories per day. The “large changes” intervention did the same, in addition to asking participants to lose 2.3–4.5 kg initially as a buffer against expected weight gain.
Among the 599 participants (age, 18–35 years; BMI, 21–30 kg/m2), mean weight loss over a mean follow-up of 3 years was 2.37 kg, 0.56 kg and 0.26 kg in the large changes, small changes and control groups, respectively. The differences were significant in all between-groups comparisons. Both interventions significantly reduced the incidence of obesity relative to controls (mean incidence, 8.6% and 7.9% vs 16.9% in the large changes, small changes and control groups, respectively).
Given that it is easier to maintain weight than lose it, this intervention may be a valuable tool in the fight against obesity.
The study can be read in full here.
