Maintaining weight after a diet? New study reveals previously unknown success factor

In a new study , researchers at the University of Connecticut investigated whether regular group meetings with mentors (successful former dieters) and peers (current dieters who support each other) can help patients maintain their weight after a successful weight-loss diet . They compared this approach with traditional professional follow-up care.

The background to this study is the widespread difficulty many people have maintaining their reduced weight after a diet in the long term. Many regain or even exceed their initial weight within months or a few years.

Furthermore, continued professional care is often not a practical solution due to a lack of financial resources.

Uwe Knop, born in 1972, is a qualified nutritionist, author, and speaker for lectures at professional associations, companies, and medical training courses.

The researchers therefore sought a more cost-effective and potentially more effective alternative to supporting patients in weight maintenance. They wanted to determine whether a system of mutual support and exchange among peers who have experience with weight loss would lead to better long-term outcomes than traditional professional follow-up programs.

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer- and mentor-based approach compared to professional support to promote sustainable weight control.

The high-quality study, which included 287 obese patients who had previously reduced their body weight by an average of 9.0 kilograms, showed clear benefits for the mentor/peers group.

The most important results in detail:

1. In the first six months after the diet, participants in the mentor/peers group lost an additional 1.44 kg, while the weight in the comparison group (professional follow-up) decreased by only 0.16 kg.
2. By month 12, the weight in the comparison group had increased by 0.77 kilograms, while the mentor/peers group was able to largely maintain its weight with an increase of only 0.04 kilograms.
3. After 18 months, the weight in the mentor/peers group was 0.77 kg above the baseline values ​​after the reduction diet, whereas in the comparison group there was an increase of 2.37 kg.
4. The mentor/peers group was able to maintain their physical activity goal (daily step count), while the comparison group experienced a decrease in daily steps after the end of the group meetings.
5. The mentor/peers group completed significantly fewer group meetings (7 instead of the planned 24), but still achieved better results.

The scientists clearly conclude that support from mentors and peers achieves better results in long-term weight stabilization after a successful weight loss diet compared to professional follow-up care, even if the overall successes were limited.

This model represents a promising alternative to conventional, often resource-intensive professional aftercare.

There's no single, clear answer to this question. The "best diet in the world" probably simply doesn't exist. It would exist if new diet hypes didn't grace the covers of many magazines every year, promising "finally the path to eternal slimness." The authors of a recent study comparing intermittent fasting with "traditional calorie counting" also make it clear: The search for a universally ideal diet that helps everyone, i.e., the entire population, is far too short-sighted – it lacks the personalized approaches that are crucial to success.

One factor is crucial here: personalized approaches . Successful weight loss and staying slim only comes from those who follow their own path, one that perfectly suits their personality, because only this completely individualized approach will lead to a new desired weight in the long term.

This detailed article on the simple five-phase plan , developed on the basis of current scientific data, shows what this path looks like.

" FINALLY EAT RIGHT " Enjoy honestly with a clear conscience - Trust your ETHICS & INTUITION by Uwe Knop

This article is from the EXPERTS Circle – a network of selected experts with in-depth knowledge and many years of experience. The content is based on individual assessments and is aligned with the current state of science and practice.