TABLE 2.
Cognitive and behavioural weight management strategies used by participants of weight control registries
| Weight Loss Strategies | Weight Loss Maintenance Strategies | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domains Strategies |
Number of Studies | n | Prevalence (%) | References | Number of Studies | n | Prevalence (%) | References |
| Dietary choices | ||||||||
| Increase vegetable consumption | 2 | 546 | 86.6 | 53,61 | 1 | 388 | 88.8 | 53 |
| Regular breakfast intakea,24 | 1 | 388 | 89.8 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 96.6 | 53 |
| Regular soup intake | 1 | 388 | 50.5 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 50.3 | 53 |
| Increase protein-rich foods consumption (eg, eggs, fish, and meat)a,53 | 1 | 388 | 36.0 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 43.5 | 53 |
| Increase fibre-rich foods consumption | 1 | 388 | 77.0 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 83.6 | 53 |
| Energy compensation b | ||||||||
| Physical activity/exercisec | 3 | 3683 | 88.6 | 4,5,38 | 1 | 388 | 67.5 | 53 |
| Using stairs rather than elevators | 1 | 388 | 45.7 | 53 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Walk instead of driving/taking public transportationa,53 | 1 | 388 | 38.0 | 53 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Parking away from destination | 1 | 388 | 20.4 | 53 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Goal setting | ||||||||
| Establishing specific goals (eg, regarding weight loss and physical activity)a,53 | 1 | 388 | 60.6 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 49.1 | 53 |
| Imitation (modelling) | ||||||||
| Followed a diet programme (obtained from a fad book, magazine or another person)d | 2 | 2964 | 23.6 | 40,63 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Information seeking | ||||||||
| Conscious food selection (eg, read labels) | 1 | 388 | 79.8 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 72.7 | 53 |
| Seek weight loss information online | 1 | 158 | 4.4 | 59 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Diet/exercise books/magazines | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 2228 | 72.4 | 5 |
| Motivation | ||||||||
| Kept picture of self in a prominent place | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 931 | 23.6 | 31 |
| Lost weight by selfd | 3 | 356 | 68.8 | 52,59,63 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Planning content | ||||||||
| Healthy foods available at home (eg, fruits and vegetables)a,53,e | 1 | 388 | 92.7 | 53 | 2 | 1319 | 89.7 | 31,53 |
| Few high-fat foods available at home | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 931 | 83.2 | 31 |
| Regulation—restrictions | ||||||||
| Follow a special/fad dietd | 3 | 1664 | 16.2 | 21,38,63 | 1 | 893 | 17.0 | 26 |
| Reduce portion sizes3,53 | 2 | 546 | 72.5 | 53,61 | 1 | 388 | 64.6 | 53 |
| Decrease alcohol intake | 1 | 158 | 34.8 | 61 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Decrease intake of soft drinks | 1 | 158 | 53.8 | 61 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Limit intake of certain types of foods | 1 | 891 | 84.6 | 21 | 1 | 893 | 93.1 | 26 |
| Limit intake to only 1 or 2 types of foods | 1 | 891 | 6.1 | 21 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Limit percentage of daily energy from fat | 1 | 773 | 33.1 | 38 | 1 | 893 | 37.8 | 26 |
| Reduce/eliminate carbohydrate-rich foods (eg, rice, pasta, and bread)a,53 | 1 | 388 | 47.9 | 56 | 1 | 388 | 35.4 | 53 |
| Reduce sugary foodsa,53,e,f | 2 | 388 | 86.5 | 53,61 | 1 | 388 | 84.1 | 53 |
| Reduce fatty foodsg | 2 | 388 | 86.7 | 53,61 | 1 | 388 | 86.0 | 53 |
| Reduce fat in meals/confection/seasoning | 1 | 388 | 84.1 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 83.8 | 53 |
| Replace caloric sauces for less-caloric alternatives (eg, squeezed lemon juice) | 1 | 388 | 66.1 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 69.8 | 53 |
| Decrease meals at restaurants | 1 | 388 | 45.4 | 53 | 2 | 1319 | 30.6 | 31,53 |
| Avoided friends with excess weight | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 931 | 4.0 | 31 |
| Regulation—rule setting | ||||||||
| Regular meal frequency | 2 | 546 | 72.5 | 53,61 | 1 | 388 | 80.8 | 53 |
| Spent more time with normal-weight friends | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 931 | 7.4 | 31 |
| Spent more time with friends who exercise | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 931 | 24.8 | 31 |
| Restraint | ||||||||
| Decrease the quantity of all types of food eaten | 1 | 891 | 57.8 | 21 | 1 | 893 | 50.5 | 26 |
| Self-monitoring | ||||||||
| Count calories | 2 | 1279 | 27.7 | 21,53 | 2 | 1281 | 28.6 | 26,53 |
| Count fat (g) | 1 | 891 | 26.7 | 21 | 1 | 893 | 31.1 | 26 |
| Self-weighinga,27,48,53,h | 2 | 546 | 79.5 | 53,61 | 3 | 1287 | 73.0 | 31,52,61 |
| Record dietary intake/physical activitya,53,e | 1 | 388 | 27.2 | 53 | 2 | 1319 | 35.9 | 31,53 |
| Support motivational | ||||||||
| Support from family | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 158 | 63.9 | 59 |
| Support from friends | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 158 | 49.4 | 59 |
| Support: professional | ||||||||
| Attend a weight control programme | 3 | 3162 | 37.6 | 40,52,63 | 1 | 2228 | 32.9 | 5 |
| Self-help/weight control group | 3 | 3320 | 8.0 | 40,52,59 | 1 | 158 | 19.6 | 59 |
| Advice from a health care professionald,i,j | 4 | 826 | 46.0 | 30,40,59,63 | 1 | 158 | 31.0 | 59 |
| Help from a personal trainer/other professionalsd | 3 | 3122 | 11.4 | 40,59,63 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Hypnosis | 1 | 2228 | 1.2 | 5 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Weight management aids | ||||||||
| Meal substitutes (eg, shakes and bars)d | 3 | 1281 | 13.8 | 26,53,63 | 2 | 1281 | 7.2 | 26,53 |
| Weight loss medicationd | 2 | 2964 | 7.3 | 40,63 | 1 | 2228 | 1.0 | 5 |
| Surgeryd | 2 | 2228 | 3.7 | 5,63 | 0 | - | - | - |
| Weight loss supplementsk,53 | 1 | 388 | 15.1 | 53 | 1 | 388 | 11.5 | 53 |
Note. The prevalence of each strategy is reported using combined data derived from the largest sample size reported in each registry.
This strategy was found to be positively associated with weight control (loss, maintenance, or both) in terms of magnitude (reference of the article/s).
Physical activity was considered in the Energy Compensation domain because this strategy is commonly used to compensate energy intake as a way to control weight.
Studies of Ogden et al5 and Klem et al38 were not accounted for sample size or prevalence rates because of assessment differences (separate nonmutually exclusive values for exercising at home, with friends, or with a structured group).
Study of Karfopoulou et al63 was not accounted for sample size or prevalence rates because the exact frequencies were not reported.
Association observed only in women.
Study of Soini et al61 was not accounted for sample size or prevalence rates because of assessment differences (separate nonmutually exclusive values for candies, sweet pastries, and fast carbohydrates).
Study of Soini et al61 was not accounted for sample size or prevalence rates because of assessment differences (separate nonmutually exclusive values for fast food, high-fat cold cuts/sausages, and high-fat cheeses).
Study of Soini et al61 reports self-weighing as monitoring weight at least once a week.
Assisted weight loss was interpreted as receiving advice from a health care professional.
Study of LaRose et al40 was not accounted for sample size or prevalence rates because of assessment differences (separate nonmutually exclusive values for advice from different health care professionals).
This strategy was found to be negatively associated with weight control (loss, maintenance, or both) in terms of magnitude (reference of the article/s)