Long term maintenance of weight loss with non-surgical interventions in obese adults: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and describe currently available approaches to supporting maintenance of weight loss in obese adults and to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were identified through to January 2014. Randomised trials of interventions to maintain weight loss provided to initially obese adults (aged ≥ 18) after weight loss of ≥ 5% body weight with long term (≥ 12 months) follow-up of weight change (main outcome) were included. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS: Potential studies were screened independently and in duplicate; study characteristics and outcomes were extracted. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of interventions on weight loss maintenance with the inverse variance method and a random effects model. Results are presented as mean differences in weight change, with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: 45 trials involving 7788 individuals were included. Behavioural interventions focusing on both food intake and physical activity resulted in an average difference of -1.56 kg (95% confidence interval -2.27 to -0.86 kg; 25 comparisons, 2949 participants) in weight regain compared with controls at 12 months. Orlistat combined with behavioural interventions resulted in a -1.80 kg (-2.54 to -1.06; eight comparisons, 1738 participants) difference compared with placebo at 12 months. All orlistat studies reported higher frequencies of adverse gastrointestinal events in the experimental compared with placebo control groups. A dose-response relation for orlistat treatment was found, with 120 mg doses three times a day leading to greater weight loss maintenance (-2.34 kg, -3.03 to -1.65) compared with 60 mg and 30 mg three times a day (-0.70 kg, 95% confidence interval -1.92 to 0.52), P=0.02. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural interventions that deal with both diet and physical activity show small but significant benefits on weight loss maintenance.

Motivation as a determinant of physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: A sufficient level of physical activity is important in reducing the impact of disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. According to self-determination theory, the achievement and maintenance of physical activity is related to goal setting and ownership, which can be supported by health professionals. Our objective was to examine the association between physical activity and the extent to which RA patients 1) believe that physical activity is a goal set by themselves (autonomous regulation) or by others (coerced regulation) and 2) feel supported by rheumatologists (autonomy supportiveness). METHOD: A random selection of 643 RA patients from the outpatient clinics of 3 hospitals were sent a postal survey to assess current physical activity level (Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-Enhancing Physical Activity), regulation style (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), and the autonomy supportiveness of their rheumatologists (modified Health Care Climate Questionnaire). RESULTS: Of the 271 patients (42%) who returned the questionnaire, 178 (66%) were female, their mean +/- SD age was 62 +/- 14 years, and their mean +/- SD disease duration was 10 +/- 8 years. Younger age, female sex, higher education level, shorter disease duration, lower disease activity, and a more autonomous regulation were univariately associated with more physical activity. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that younger age and a more autonomous regulation were significantly associated with a higher physical activity level (P = 0.000 and 0.050, respectively). CONCLUSION: Regulation style was a significant determinant of physical activity in RA patients. This finding may contribute to further development of interventions to enhance physical activity in RA patients.