(08-12-05) A physical activity program to reinforce weight maintenance following a behavior program in overweight/obese subjects.

Villanova N, Pasqui F, Burzacchini S, Forlani G, Manini R, Suppini A, Melchionda N, Marchesini G.

1Department Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Unit of Metabolic Diseases, 'Alma Mater Studiorum' University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Objective:To investigate the effects of a specific program to implement physical activity (fitness program) on weight loss maintenance, activity level and resting energy expenditure (REE).Design:Observational study of subjects completing a behavioral program.Subjects:In total, 200 overweight/obese subjects (36 males, aged 20-66 years; average BMI, 35.2 kg/m(2)).Program and measurements:The fitness program consisted of 12 bimonthly sessions, chaired by doctors and dietitians, involving groups of 8-12 subjects. Patients entered the program approximately 9 months after the end of behavioral treatment, during a weight loss maintenance period. The goal was set at a light-to-moderate daily physical activity (brisk walking), quantitatively measured by a pedometer; REE was measured before and after the fitness program by indirect calorimetry in a subset of patients.Results:The fitness program restarted the process of weight loss in over 60% of subjects. At the end of the study, 84% of patients walked at least 5000 steps per day, compared with 24% at the beginning of the study. The probability of losing from 5 to 10% of initial body weight increased by 20% for any 1000 steps/day (OR, 1.20; 95% CI (confidence interval), 1.07-1.35), and that of losing more than 10% by over 30% (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.19-1.49). REE increased significantly by 100 kcal/day (+7.5%), in spite of further weight loss (-1.8%).Conclusion:A specific fitness program in the weight maintenance phase after a behavioral program may significantly improve the long-term control of obesity.International Journal of Obesity advance online publication, 29 November 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803185.

Int J Obes (Lond). 2005 Nov 29; [Epub ahead of print]

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