Before becoming weight-loss surgery patients, individuals first turned to conventional weight-loss methods such as diet and exercise when they wanted to lose weight.
For some, the task of losing weight and keeping it off long-term can be difficult and frustrating, which is why many choose to undergo weight-loss surgery before excess weight starts to have serious adverse effects on their health.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine sought out to examine whether individuals who experienced long-term weight loss exhibited certain lifestyle behaviors that helped them keep off the weight long-term. The study, which was conducted by researchers at Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island, lasted for a total of 10 years.
When the study began over a decade ago, all participants had recently lost 30 pounds and had already managed to keep the weight off for approximately one year. As years passed, the researchers looked at how each participant was able to maintain their weight loss and make healthy lifestyle changes to accommodate their new accomplishment. At the end of the study, the researchers found that over 87 percent of all participants who were successful at keeping off the weight exhibited certain key behaviors that allowed them to maintain a healthy body weight.
The individuals who experienced the most success with long-term weight loss stayed physically active on a routine basis, ate healthy diets that were low in fat, and generally ate small portion sizes. Additionally, each of these individuals took time to weigh and measure themselves periodically to verify that they were maintaining weight so they could make further lifestyle changes and adjustments as necessary to stay slim.
The individuals who managed to gain back 30 or more pounds at the end of the study tended to exhibit less healthy behaviors that contributed to weight gain — such as bingeing on high-fat foods, eating large portions, and straying from their diets. The same individuals also failed to keep track of their weight over the years by neglecting the scale and body measurements.
In conclusion, the study authors say that long-term weight loss can be achieved only if individuals are consistent with practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors.
If you are interested in weight loss surgery, check out MBL’s Ultimate Guide To Weight Loss surgery.
