Failing at diets a necessary part of achieving sustainable weight loss: Study

Failing to keep the pounds off after losing weight on a diet isn’t necessarily a bad thing, according to a York University study.

The study — from York’s Faculty of Health — says regressions in which dieters put on unwanted pounds should be a learning experiences and considered a necessary part of a journey towards sustained weight loss.

“Our results suggest repeated bouts of weight loss and regain should not be viewed as failures, but as practice,” said lead study author Jennifer Kuk, a professor at the university’s School of Kinesiology and Health Science.

The study, “Association between Weight Loss History and Weight Loss Achieved in Clinical Obesity Management,” was published in the October issue of the journal, Obesity. It involved 9,348 patients from the Wharton Medical Clinic, a weight-loss and diabetes clinic in Burlington, where the participants’ history of weight loss was collected.

Most of those participating said they became overweight before the age of 40 and lost 10 pounds or more at least once.

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The study also reported that achieving long-term success requires multiple attempts using varied approaches.

It says gaining unwanted pounds is to be expected as a necessary component of weight management.

“This data is reassuring that previous failed attempts did not put patients at a disadvantage from being successful,” said study co-author Dr. Sean Wharton.

“One should continue to make attempts at weight management, and it is likely that an appropriate approach – especially with proven effective interventions such as medication or psychological intervention – will eventually be effective,” he added. “For any lifestyle or behavioural change, individualizing the approach – that is, practising and refining strategies that work for that individual over time – is a key concept, and long-term weight management should be no different.”