WeightControl.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Our research shows that achieving 0.5% weight loss just 4 weeks into a programme is predictive of long-term success; people who don’t achieve that may need extra support or alternative therapies.
WeightControl.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: We were surprised by how simple the model was (0.5% at 4 weeks is very straightforward to remember) but the overall idea is based on published evidence from a range of weight management interventions. Even for surgery and medications there is little about a person prior to the intervention that predicts outcomes, but early response in the first few months is associated with success. Being able to know as early as 4 weeks is advantageous as it allows you to intervene before the person has disengaged – we know that many people living with obesity do not want to attend health care appointments after a perceived “failure” of a weight loss intervention. By building this check-point into programmes then you have the double benefit of being able to escalate therapy for those who needs it while leaving those that are likely to be successful within a low-cost and effective programme.
WeightControl.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?
Response: We need to understand why people are not having success in these programmes in order to know what alternative interventions to provide to support them. This is likely to vary between individuals and include social, economic, medical, psychological and physiological factors. Simply adding medication or surgery may not be the best answer if there are other factors that need to be addressed first to ensure they can be maximally effective.
Disclosures: I have previously received payment for consultancy from Novo Nordisk. From the 19th of September I will be an employee of AstraZeneca, however I was not at the time of this research and AstraZeneca have no involvement in this research.
Citation: Abstract presented at September 2022 EASD meeting
Development of a predictive model for short and medium-term weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes attending a weight management programme
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Last Updated on September 15, 2022 by weightcontrol