Table 2.

Achievable weight change (95% confidence intervals) from meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials in adults

	Weight change (kg) at 1-3 years
Trials	1	2	3
Lifestyle interventions v control
Deficit of 600 kcal/day,* or low fat diet	−5.3 (−5.9 to −4.8)	−2.4 (−3.6 to −1.2)	−3.6 (−4.5 to −2.6)
Diet and exercise	−4.8 (−5.4 to −4.2)	−2.7 (−3.6 to −1.8)	Not studied
Diet and behaviour therapy	−7.2 (−8.7 to −5.8)	−1.8 (−4.8 to 1.2)	Not studied
Diet, exercise, and behaviour therapy	−4.0 (−4.5 to −3.5)	−3.0 (−3.6 to −2.4)	−2.0 (−2.7 to −1.3)
Effect of adding exercise
Adding exercise to diet	−2.0 (−3.2 to −0.7)	Not studied	−8.2 (−15.3 to −1.2)
Adding exercise to diet, plus behaviour therapy	−3.0 (−4.9 to −1.1)	−2.2 (−4.2 to −0.1)	Not studied
Effect of adding behaviour therapy
Adding behaviour therapy to diet	−7.7 (−12.0 to −3.4)	Not studied	−2.9 (−8.6 to 2.8)

Data from Avenell et al (see Further Reading box).

^*1 kcal = 4.18 kJ.