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Single-serving packages (SSPs) may assist people in reducing consumption. Because overweight/obese individuals and individuals practicing dietary restraint may be more responsive to external food cues regarding an amount of food to consume, we examined whether weight and restraint status influence the relationship between package size and consumption. It was hypothesized that SSPs would reduce intake in overweight/obese individuals and individuals practicing dietary restraint compared with standard packages (STPs). Using a 2×2×2 (unrestrained/restrained×normal weight/overweight×SSP/STP) between-subjects design, 64 participants (aged 23.7±3.3 years; 81.3% white; 46.9% female), from June to October 2011, were randomly assigned to receive 20 oz pretzels packaged in SSPs or STPs, and were instructed to eat the pretzels ad libitum for 4 days. Each condition in the design contained eight participants. Total grams consumed was determined by subtracting postconsumption from preconsumption weight of packages provided. Using an analysis of variance for total grams of pretzels consumed, there was a significant interaction (P=0.01) between package size and weight status. Overweight/obese participants in the SSP condition ate fewer grams of pretzels than overweight/obese participants in the STP condition (107.0±101.9 g vs 204.4±144.9; P<0.05). No effect of restraint was found on consumption. For overweight/obese individuals, fewer pretzels were consumed when packaged in SSPs compared with STPs. Thus, replacing STPs with SSPs may assist with reducing consumption in some overweight/obese individuals., (Copyright © 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Eating frequency has been negatively related to body mass index (BMI). The relationship between eating frequency and weight loss maintenance is unknown. This secondary analysis examined eating frequency (self-reported meals and snacks consumed per day) in weight loss maintainers (WLM) who had reduced from overweight/obese to normal weight, normal weight (NW) individuals, and overweight (OW) individuals. Data collected July 2006 to March 2007 in Providence, RI, included three 24-hour dietary recalls (2 weekdays, 1 weekend day) analyzed using Nutrient Data System for Research software from 257 adults (WLM n=96, 83.3% women aged 50.0±11.8 years with BMI 22.1±1.7; NW n=80, 95.0% women aged 46.1±11.5 years with BMI 21.1±1.4; OW n=81, 53.1% women aged 51.4±9.0 years with BMI 34.2±4.1) with plausible intakes. Participant-defined meals and snacks were ≥50 kcal and separated by more than 1 hour. Self-reported physical activity was highest in WLM followed by NW, and then OW (3,097±2,572 kcal/week, 2,062±1,286 kcal/week, and 785±901 kcal/week, respectively; P<0.001). Number of daily snacks consumed was highest in NW, followed by WLM, and then OW (2.3±1.1 snacks/day, 1.9±1.1 snacks/day, and 1.5±1.3 snacks/day, respectively; P<0.001). No significant group differences were observed in mean number of meals consumed (2.7±0.4 meals/day). Eating frequency, particularly in regard to a pattern of three meals and two snacks per day, may be important in weight loss maintenance., (Copyright © 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The influence of dietary environmental factors on child weight status may be important in the battle against childhood obesity. Portion size and energy density are factors shown to impact entrée energy intake in children. However, the influence of these factors on child snack energy intake has not been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of portion size on intake of a lower energy-dense and higher energy-dense snack in preschool-aged children. A 2×2 crossover design (within-subject factors of portion size and energy density) was conducted on Wednesdays in a preschool setting on the University of Tennessee campus from October 2008 to November 2008. Seventeen children had complete data (age 3.8±0.6 years; 10 of 17 were female; 14 of 17 were white). Foods were applesauce (lower energy dense=0.43 kcal/g) and chocolate pudding (higher energy dense=1.19 kcal/g), and portion sizes were 150 g (small) and 300 g (large). Measures included anthropometrics, hunger, liking of foods, and caretakers' child-feeding practices using validated instruments. Mixed factorial analyses of covariance, with order controlled, analyzed gram and energy snack intake across conditions. There was no significant main effect of energy density on snack intake, but the main effect of portion size on snack intake (small portion size 84.2±30.8 kcal, large portion size 99.0±52.5 kcal; P<0.05) was significant. Results indicate increased energy intake when snacks are offered in larger portion size, regardless of energy density. Snack portion size may be an environmental strategy that can reduce excessive energy intake in children., (Copyright © 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study compared weight control strategies during the winter holidays among successful weight losers (SWL) in the National Weight Control Registry and normal weight individuals (NW) with no history of obesity. SWL (n = 178) had lost a mean of 34.9 kg and had kept > or = 13.6 kg off for a mean of 5.9 years. NW (n = 101) had a body mass index of 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2). More SWL than NW reported plans to be extremely strict in maintaining their usual dietary routine (27.3% vs. 0%) and exercise routine (59.1% vs. 14.3%) over the holidays. Main effects for group indicated that SWL maintained greater exercise, greater attention to weight and eating, greater stimulus control, and greater dietary restraint, both before and during the holidays. A Group x Time interaction indicated that, over the holidays, attention to weight and eating declined significantly more in SW than in NW. More SWL (38.9%) than NW (16.7%) gained > or = 1 kg over the holidays, and this effect persisted 1 month later (28.3% and 10.7%, respectively). SWL worked harder than NW did to manage their weight, but they appeared more vulnerable to weight gain during the holidays., ((c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)

Objective: Compare parent-reported preschool- and school-aged children's eating and leisure-time activity patterns that are proposed to influence energy balance. Design: Cross-sectional investigation of children, 2 to 12 years, attending a well visit. Setting: Pediatric private practice/ambulatory pediatric clinic. Participants: One hundred seventy-four children: 49% preschool-aged, 54% female, 28% Hispanic, and 34% overweight or at risk for overweight. Variables Measured: Parent-reported eating/leisure-time behaviors. Height/weight from medical records. Analysis: Analyses of covariance/chi-square tests; significance at P less than or equal to 0.05. Results: By parents' report, preschool-aged children consumed more servings/day of low-fat dairy (2.1 +/- 1.6 vs 1.7 +/- 1.5; P less than 0.01), fewer servings/day of sweetened drinks (1.4 +/- 1.9 vs 2.2 +/- 2.6; P less than 0.01) and watched fewer hours/day of weekend TV (2.3 +/- 1. 3 vs 2.7 +/- 1.3; P less than 0.05) than school-aged children. Fewer preschool-aged children consumed salty (14.0% vs 26.1%; P less than 0.05) and sweet (16.3% vs. 29.5%; P less than 0.05) snack food daily, and a greater percentage regularly consumed dinner with a parent (93.0% vs 80.7%; P less than 0.05), as assessed by parent report. Conclusions and Implications: Parent-reported children's eating/leisure-time patterns that may influence energy balance were less healthful in the school-aged children. However, most children did not meet recommendations, irrespective of age or weight. Interventions for meeting recommendations should start with families with preschool-aged children. Future research should focus on identifying factors that might be contributing to increased reporting of problematic food and leisure-time activity patterns in school-aged children. (Contains 3 tables.)

Objective: Taste blindness to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) associates with increased fat preference and intake. No studies have matched a diet to a woman's PROP phenotype to improve weight loss. This study investigated (1) whether PROP nontaster (NT) women would lose more weight following a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet than a low-fat (LF) diet, and (2) whether PROP supertaster (ST) women would lose more weight following a LF diet than a LC diet.Methods: One hundred seven women (BMI = 34.8 ± 0.5 kg/m2 ), classified as PROP NTs (n = 47) and STs (n = 60), were randomized to a LC or LF diet within a 6-month lifestyle intervention. Assessments included 4-day dietary recalls and biobehavioral and psychosocial questionnaires.Results: At 6 months, NTs lost more weight following the LC than the LF diet (-8.5 ± 0.5 kg vs. -6.6 ± 0.5 kg, P = 0.008); there was no difference between STs following either diet (-8.8 ± 0.4 vs. -8.9 ± 0.5, P = 0.35). Dietary self-reports were unrelated to weight loss, and prescription of a LC diet associated with greater self-efficacy.Conclusions: NT women lost more weight following the LC diet compared to the LF diet. Screening for PROP phenotype may help personalize diet therapy for NT women to optimize their short-term weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate a commercial online weight loss program and activity tracker, which are popular but have unknown efficacy.Methods: Two hundred seventy-nine participants with BMI 27 to 40 kg/m2 were randomized to 12 months of the Weight Watchers Online program alone (WWO) or with the ActiveLink® activity tracking device (WWO+AL) or an online newsletter (Control).Results: Weight losses at 3 months were significantly greater in WWO (2.7 kg [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.0-3.5 kg] than Control (1.3 kg [95% CI, 0.5-2.0 kg]; P = 0.01); neither differed from WWO+AL (2.0 kg [95% CI, 1.3-2.7 kg]; Ps > 0.56). Significantly more WWO participants (24.5%) achieved ≥ 5% weight loss at 3 months than Control (9.4%) (P = 0.01); neither differed from WWO+AL (17.6%) (Ps = 0.13-0.28). At 12 months, there were no significant differences between groups in weight loss (Ps > 0.52). WWO (25.5%) continued to have a higher proportion of participants achieving ≥ 5% weight loss than Control (12.9%) (P = 0.04); neither differed from WWO+AL (14.3%) (Ps > 0.10). There were no significant between-group differences in change in physical activity (Ps > 0.17).Conclusions: WWO produced significantly more weight loss at 3 months relative to Control, but not at 12 months. Significantly more WWO than Control participants lost ≥ 5% at both 3 and 12 months. Participants receiving an activity tracking device did not achieve greater weight loss or physical activity increases than those in a Control condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background When a hypocaloric, low-fat diet is prescribed, intake of currently consumed foods can decrease, foods naturally low in fat and/or added sugar may increase, or fat- or sugar-modified foods may increase. Objective To examine food group intake change and its relation to reductions in energy and fat intake and weight during a lifestyle intervention. Design Secondary cohort analysis. Participants One hundred sixty-nine participants (aged 52.0±8.6 years, body mass index 34.9±4.5, 92% white, 97.6% non-Hispanic, and 56.8% women) with complete data at 0 and 6 months collected in a research setting. Main outcome measures From three 24-hour telephone dietary recalls, 165 food groups from Nutrition Data System for Research software were coded into 25 larger food groups assessing intake of higher-fat and/or added-sugar food groups vs naturally lower-fat and/or added-sugar food groups and into 17 larger food groups assessing intake of nonmodified vs fat- and/or sugar-modified food groups. Statistical analyses performed Repeated measures analyses of covariance (intervention group: covariate) assessed changes from 0 to 6 months. Hierarchical regressions examined changes in food group intake and changes in energy intake, percent energy from fat intake, and weight from 0 to 6 months. Results Significant reductions ( P <0.05) in intake of high-fat and/or high-added-sugar food groups (Higher-Fat Dairy; Higher-Fat Eggs; Higher-Fat Fats; Higher-Fat Fruit; Higher-Fat Meat; Nonmodified Higher-Fat Fats, Oils, and Sweets; Nonmodified Higher-Fat Sugar-Sweetened Fats, Oils, and Sweets; Nonmodified Regular-Fat Dairy; and Nonmodified Regular-Fat Sugar-Sweetened Dairy) occurred. Decreases in the Higher-Fat Meat group were significantly ( P <0.05) related to decreases in energy intake, percent energy from fat intake, and weight. Conclusions When a hypocaloric, low-fat diet is prescribed, reductions in high-fat and/or high-added-sugar food groups occur. Targeting reductions in high-fat meats may improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Excessive sedentary time (SED) has been linked to obesity and other adverse health outcomes. However, few sedentary-reducing interventions exist and none have utilized smartphones to automate behavioral strategies to decrease SED. We tested a smartphone-based intervention to monitor and decrease SED in overweight/obese individuals, and compared 3 approaches to prompting physical activity (PA) breaks and delivering feedback on SED. Design and Methods: Participants [N = 30; Age  = 47.5(13.5) years; 83% female; Body Mass Index (BMI) = 36.2(7.5) kg/m2] wore the SenseWear Mini Armband (SWA) to objectively measure SED for 7 days at baseline. Participants were then presented with 3 smartphone-based PA break conditions in counterbalanced order: (1) 3-min break after 30 SED min; (2) 6-min break after 60 SED min; and (3) 12-min break after 120 SED min. Participants followed each condition for 7 days and wore the SWA throughout. Results: All PA break conditions yielded significant decreases in SED and increases in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (p<0.005). Average % SED at baseline (72.2%) decreased by 5.9%, 5.6%, and 3.3% [i.e. by mean (95% CI) −47.2(−66.3, −28.2), −44.5(−65.2, −23.8), and −26.2(−40.7, −11.6) min/d] in the 3-, 6-, and 12-min conditions, respectively. Conversely, % LPA increased from 22.8% to 26.7%, 26.7%, and 24.7% [i.e. by 31.0(15.8, 46.2), 31.0(13.6, 48.4), and 15.3(3.9, 26.8) min/d], and % MVPA increased from 5.0% to 7.0%, 6.7%, and 6.3% (i.e. by 16.2(8.5, 24.0), 13.5(6.3, 20.6), and 10.8(4.2, 17.5) min/d] in the 3-, 6-, and 12-min conditions, respectively. Planned pairwise comparisons revealed the 3-min condition was superior to the 12-min condition in decreasing SED and increasing LPA (p<0.05). Conclusion: The smartphone-based intervention significantly reduced SED. Prompting frequent short activity breaks may be the most effective way to decrease SED and increase PA in overweight/obese individuals. Future investigations should determine whether these SED reductions can be maintained long-term. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01688804 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As many people struggle with maintenance of weight loss, the study of successful weight loss maintainers (SWLM) can yield important insights into factors contributing to weight loss maintenance. However, little research has examined how SWLM differ from people who are obese or normal weight (NW) in brain response to orosensory stimulation. The goal of this study was to determine if SWLM exhibit different brain responses to orosensory stimulation. Brain response to 1-min orosensory stimulation with a lemon lollipop was assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging among 49 participants, including SWLM (n = 17), NW (n = 18), and obese (n = 14) controls. Significant brain responses were observed in nine brain regions, including the bilateral insula, left inferior frontal gyrus, left putamen, and other sensory regions. All regions also exhibited significant attenuation of this response over 1 min. The SWLM exhibited greater response compared with the other groups in all brain regions. Findings suggest that the response to orosensory stimulation peaks within 40 s and attenuates significantly between 40 and 60 s in regions associated with sensation, reward, and inhibitory control. Greater reactivity among the SWLM suggests that greater sensory reactivity to orosensory stimulation, increased anticipated reward, and subsequently greater inhibitory processing are associated with weight loss maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating frequency has been inversely related to BMI but the impact of eating frequency on weight loss is unclear. This randomized controlled trial pilot study examined the effect of eating frequency on hunger, energy intake, and weight loss during a 6-month behavioral weight loss intervention. Participants (age: 51.0 ± 9.9 years, BMI: 35.5 ± 4.8 kg/m2, 57.8% female, 94.1% white) were randomized to one of two eating frequency prescriptions: Three meal (n = 25): three eating bouts/day; or grazing (n = 26): eat at least 100 kcals every 2-3 h. Both groups attended 20 sessions and had identical dietary (1,200-1,500 kcals/day, <30% kcals from fat) and physical activity goals (200 min/week). Assessments were conducted at 0, 3, and 6 months. Using intent-to-treat analyses, grazing reported a greater eating frequency than three meal at 6 months (5.8 ± 1.1 eating bouts/day vs. 3.2 ± 0.6 eating bouts/day, P < 0.001). Grazing reported a significant reduction in hunger from 0 to 6 months (56.3 ± 15.7 mm vs. 47.9 ± 18.5 mm, P < 0.05). Energy intake and BMI were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced from 0 to 6 months (energy intake: 2,198 ± 692 kcals/day vs. 1,266 ± 353 kcals/day; BMI: 35.5 ± 4.8 kg/m2 vs. 30.6 ± 4.9 kg/m2). There were no significant differences in energy intake or BMI between the groups. While eating more frequently reduced hunger, it may not be related to greater reductions in energy intake or BMI during a behavioral weight loss intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examined the relation between method of weight loss and long-term maintenance among successful weight losers enrolled in a weight-loss maintenance trial. Participants of the trial were adults who had lost at least 10% of their body weight using a very low-calorie diet (VLCD). Results showed that participants who had used VLCD regained more weight. The study also found that individuals who had used a self-guided approach maintained their initial weight losses with the greatest success.

The article discusses a study which investigated whether having a weight loss experience that lives up to one's expectations is related to maintenance in a group of successful weight losers participating in the STOP Regain trial. Participants who lost body weight within the past 2 years were randomly assigned to a maintenance program delivered either face-to-face or via the Internet or to a control group. The authors found that failure to meet weight loss expectations were not related to subsequent weight maintenance outcomes.

Several recent studies suggest that daily weighing is important for long-term weight control, but concerns have been raised about possible adverse psychological effects. The ‘STOP Regain’ clinical trial provides a unique opportunity to examine this issue both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Successful weight losers (N = 314) were randomly assigned to a control or to a face-to-face or Internet intervention designed to help them maintain their weight loss and were then followed for 18 months. The intervention groups reported increases in daily self-weighing, which were associated with successful weight loss maintenance. We found no evidence that increases in frequency of weighing or daily weighing per se had any adverse effects in this study population. Rather, increases in self-weighing were associated with increases in dietary restraint (p < .001), decreases in disinhibition (p < .003), and decreases in depressive symptoms (p < .002). Moreover, those who weighed daily at 18 months were less likely to report having ≥4 binge episodes per month (p = .03). Daily weighing appears to be an important aspect of weight loss maintenance and was not associated with adverse psychological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Limiting meal variety decreases hedonic ratings of eaten foods more so than non-eaten foods, demonstrating sensory-specific satiety. Exposure to a food over time decreases the food''s hedonic ratings, indicating monotony. The effect of limiting food group variety over time on long-term sensory-specific satiety and monotony is unknown. Thirty overweight adults were randomized to one of two 8-week behavioral weight loss interventions. One condition limited snack food intake to one chosen snack food (reduced variety), while the other limited snack food intake to <1 serving/day (control), with no variety limit. In the reduced variety condition, hedonic ratings of the chosen snack food showed a decrease (p <.05) over time and decreased more (p <.05) than hedonic ratings of other snack foods. Weight loss (−7.4±5.8 lb) occurred in both conditions. Limiting food group variety over 8 weeks produced long-term sensory-specific satiety and monotony. Future research should examine if limiting food group variety over an extended time affects intake and could be used as a technique in weight loss interventions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The authors reflect on a study on the link of watching television and children's and adolescents' weight status with disease risks. They discuss the use of the term sedentary in describing behaviors that do not meet the level of energy consumption equal to moderate physical activity. They tackle various mechanisms in which sedentary behaviors have negative effects on health such as the reduction of energy expenditure when watching television.

Abstract: Acute energy and macronutrient intake following an Exercise and Control protocol was compared to determine if active, normal-weight males regulate acute energy intake better, demonstrating more acute accurate energy compensation capabilities, than inactive, normal-weight males after exercise. Males (21.2±1.9years) of normal percent body fat (10.0–18.0%) and body mass index (23.4±1.7kg/m2), exercising ⩾150min/week (Active: n =10) or ⩽60min/week (Inactive: n =10), completed two protocols, counterbalanced across participants. The exercise protocol (Exercise) was 45-min on a cycle ergometer and the Control protocol consisted of 45-min of reading. Sixty minutes after protocols, an ad libitum meal was provided. Energy and macronutrient intake from the meal was determined. Inactive ate significantly less energy in the ad libitum meal in Exercise as compared to Control, demonstrating acute negative energy compensation (consumed less in the meal while expending more energy in Exercise as compared to Control). Active had no difference in meal energy intake between the protocols, but due to Inactive’s reduced acute energy intake in Exercise, Active demonstrated better acute energy compensation than Inactive. No difference in meal macronutrient intake was found. Overall, Active demonstrated better acute energy compensation than Inactive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Basic research has shown that increasing variety increases energy intake, and repeated consumption of the same food increases habituation to those foods and reduces consumption. Twenty-four families with overweight/obese 8–12 year-old children and overweight/obese parents were randomly assigned to 6 months of usual family based treatment (FBT) or FBT plus reduced variety of high energy-dense foods (FBT + Variety). Intention to treat mixed model ANOVA showed between group differences in child percent overweight (FBT + Variety − 15.4% vs. FBT − 8.9%, p = 0.017) and parent BMI (FBT + Variety − 3.7 kg/m 2 vs. FBT − 2.3 kg/m 2 ; p = 0.017). Positive relationships were observed between child zBMI and parent BMI changes (r = 0.51, p = 0.018), and between reductions in food variety of high energy-dense foods and reductions in child zBMI (r = 0.54, p = 0.02) and parent BMI (r = 0.45, p = 0.08). These pilot data suggest that reducing the variety of high energy dense foods and repeating meals within the context of FBT resulted in improved child and parent weight changes at six months. This represents easy to implement changes that reduce choice and may reduce response burden on families. Reducing variety may be a complement to standard FBT that enhances weight loss. Long term studies are needed to assess maintenance of these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity (FI) has been paradoxically associated with childhood obesity. Little research has examined whether FI influences response to childhood obesity treatment. Conduct a secondary analysis examining effects of household FI status on weight-related outcomes among children participating in a low-intensity obesity treatment program delivered at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Two 6-month family-based programs targeting energy-balance behaviors were implemented. One program targeted caregiver and child behaviors, while the other targeted child behaviors only. Children 4-10 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥85th percentile, receiving integrated primary care at the FQHC, and with a female caregiver were randomized to 1 of the 2 programs. The program consisted of alternating monthly in-person meetings and phone calls delivered by a licensed behaviorist in primary care. Household FI status at 0 months was determined by the U.S. Household Food Security Module. At months 0 and 6, measured anthropometrics were used to calculate BMI z-score (zBMI), and energy intake (EI) was assessed via three 24-hour dietary recalls. Regression analyses, controlling for randomization and 0-months zBMI or EI, examined if FI status predicted post-intervention zBMI or EI. Repeated measures controlling for the randomized group examined the main effect of time on zBMI and EI. Sixty-six children (8.2 ± 1.8 years, 59% male, 91% White, 77% Hispanic/Latino, 35% FI) were included in analysis. FI status was not related to zBMI, t(62) = 1.01, P = 0.32, or EI, t(48) = 0.44, P =.66, at post-intervention. A main effect of time was observed for zBMI (2.01 ± 0.42 vs 1.94 ± 0.47), F(1,64) = 5.97, P =.017, and EI (1172 ± 454 kcal vs 1021 ± 196 kcal), F(1,50) = 6.86, P =.012. FI status did not affect weight-related outcomes in this low-intensity obesity treatment program. Future research should examine whether FI status affects outcomes in more intensive interventions for which adherence may be challenging for families with unstable food access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since many successful dieters regain the weight they lose, programs that teach maintenance skills are needed. We developed a maintenance program based on self-regulation theory and tested the efficacy of delivering the program face to face or over the Internet. Methods: We randomly assigned 314 participants who had lost a mean of 19.3 kg of body weight in the previous 2 years to one of three groups: a control group, which received quarterly newsletters (105 participants), a group that received face-to-face intervention (105), and a group that received Internet-based intervention (104). The content of the programs in the two intervention groups was the same, emphasizing daily self-weighing and self-regulation, as was the frequency of contact with the groups. The primary outcome was weight gain over a period of 18 months. Results: The mean (±SD) weight gain was 2.5±6.7 kg in the face-to-face group, 4.7±8.6 kg in the Internet group, and 4.9±6.5 kg in the control group, with a significant difference between the face-to-face group and the control group (2.4 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.002 to 10.8; P=0.05). The proportion of participants who regained 2.3 kg or more over the 18-month period was significantly higher in the control group (72.4%) than in the face-to-face group (45.7%; absolute difference, 27%; 95% CI, 14 to 39; P<0.001) or the Internet group (54.8%; absolute difference, 18%; 95% CI, 5 to 30; P=0.008). Daily self-weighing increased in both intervention groups and was associated with a decreased risk of regaining 2.3 kg or more (P<0.001). Conclusions: As compared with receiving quarterly newsletters, a self-regulation program based on daily weighing improved maintenance of weight loss, particularly when delivered face to face. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00067145.) N Engl J Med 2006;355:1563-71. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]