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Technical skills for weight loss: 2-y follow-up results of a randomized trial.
Yeh, M-C 1; Rodriguez, E 1; Nawaz, H 1; Gonzalez, M 1; Nakamoto, D 2; Katz, D L 1,2*
[Article] International Journal of Obesity. 27(12):1500-1506, December 2003.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sustained effectiveness of a novel skill-based intervention for weight loss.

DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial.

SUBJECTS: A total of 80 overweight/obese women living in Connecticut.

MEASUREMENTS: Absolute weight difference measured in pounds and absolute change in body mass index (BMI). Secondary outcomes included changes in food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data and waist-to-hip ratio.

RESULTS: In all 61, 35, and 34% of study participants completed the 6-, 12-, and 24-month assessments, respectively. At 6 months postintervention, both counseling-based (CBI) and skill-based (SBI) intervention groups had statistically significant decreases in absolute weight (4.0 /-3.6 and 1.7 /-3.0 kg, respectively). Compared to their baseline values, both CBI and SBI groups still maintained weight losses at 24 months (1.1 /-5.8 and 0.59 /-3.3 kg, respectively); however, the differences were not statistically significant. FFQ results showed that, within the SBI group, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in percent fat from baseline to 12 months and a nearly significant decrease in saturated fat from baseline to 24 months (P=0.07).

CONCLUSIONS: Both the novel SBI and conventional dietary counseling demonstrated some residual weight loss benefit at 2 y. Effects of the SBI on dietary intake patterns are encouraging, and warrant further study.