Studying the dietary behaviors of persons who maintain significant weight loss: Systematic Review

Objective: To search dietary behaviors associated with weight loss maintenance or little, long- term weight gain.

Methodology: A search was realized amongst international databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, BioMed Central, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect. Data were collected from studies published between 1990 and 2017. In order to evaluate the quality of the studies, the “Newcastle-Ottawa” assessment scale was used, for both prospective and cross-sectional studies (specifically adapted).

Results: The most common dietary behavior identified in the studies, was the reduction of food consumption away from home. Furthermore, four (4) out of the eleven (11) studies suggest a positive relationship between having breakfast and weight loss maintenance. In addition, two (2) studies suggest a positive relationship between portion control, limiting fast food consumption and little weight gain in the long term.

Conclusions: Adopting specific dietary behaviors, such as reducing the frequency of food consumption away from home and
having breakfast, is associated with less body weight gain in the long term. Interventions applied to the treatment of obesity should aim in the adoption of such behaviors, as their inclusion could increase their effectiveness in successfully maintaining weight. Finally, further research is needed, with a view to providing greater importance and clarity of data, in relation to adopting dietary behaviors and weight loss maintenance.

Hellenic J Nutr Diet 2020, 12(1-2):22-40