Support the key to maintaining that weight loss

Researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand say support from nurses in a weight-loss program is as effective as a more expensive intensive programme involving dieticians and exercise specialists.

A study by the researchers found that for people trying to maintain weight after participation in a weight-loss program, regular face-to-face interaction with a supportive health professional appears to be a key success factor and though attendance at exercise classes eventually dropped, the results were still helpful.

The study, a randomised controlled trial with 200 women aged 25-70 years old, was based on the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study and included women who had lost 5% or more of their body weight.

The women were followed for two years after the initial weight loss and in addition to nutritional counselling and materials provided to all participants, those in the Nurse Support Programme received 5-10 minute weigh-in visits with a nurse every two weeks for two years and on alternate weeks, they received a phone call from the same nurse to discuss progress.

Professor Jim Mann from the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research, University of Otago, says intensive programmes have been shown to be successful, but costly and the well beyond the means of health budgets in many countries.

Professor Mann says many participants said that the weigh-ins and the enthusiastic support provided by the nurse on those occasions and on the telephone were the key to their success.

The researchers say that nurse-led programs with weekly or bi-weekly weigh-ins could be easily introduced in many countries where general practice is the cornerstone of the health care system at a fraction of the cost of intensive-support programs.

Experts say how and how often support is provided may be more important that who provides it as the nurse in the study had little training in nutrition and exercise but was supportive and enthusiastic but introducing nurse-coordinated programmes in countries where there is a shortage of nurses, may not be feasible and exercise specialists and dieticians with relevant training can provide similar support for people wanting to maintain weight loss.

The research is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.