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. 2014 Oct 15;9(10):e109849.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109849. eCollection 2014.

Does the method of weight loss effect long-term changes in weight, body composition or chronic disease risk factors in overweight or obese adults? A systematic review

Richard A Washburn  1 , Amanda N Szabo  1 , Kate Lambourne  1 , Erik A Willis  1 , Lauren T Ptomey  1 , Jeffery J Honas  1 , Stephen D Herrmann  2 , Joseph E Donnelly  1
Affiliations

Does the method of weight loss effect long-term changes in weight, body composition or chronic disease risk factors in overweight or obese adults? A systematic review

Richard A Washburn et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Differences in biological changes from weight loss by energy restriction and/or exercise may be associated with differences in long-term weight loss/regain.

Objective: To assess the effect of weight loss method on long-term changes in weight, body composition and chronic disease risk factors.

Data sources: PubMed and Embase were searched (January 1990-October 2013) for studies with data on the effect of energy restriction, exercise (aerobic and resistance) on long-term weight loss. Twenty articles were included in this review.

Study eligibility criteria: Primary source, peer reviewed randomized trials published in English with an active weight loss period of >6 months, or active weight loss with a follow-up period of any duration, conducted in overweight or obese adults were included.

Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Considerable heterogeneity across trials existed for important study parameters, therefore a meta-analysis was considered inappropriate. Results were synthesized and grouped by comparisons (e.g. diet vs. aerobic exercise, diet vs. diet + aerobic exercise etc.) and study design (long-term or weight loss/follow-up).

Results: Forty percent of trials reported significantly greater long-term weight loss with diet compared with aerobic exercise, while results for differences in weight regain were inconclusive. Diet+aerobic exercise resulted in significantly greater weight loss than diet alone in 50% of trials. However, weight regain (∼ 55% of loss) was similar in diet and diet+aerobic exercise groups. Fat-free mass tended to be preserved when interventions included exercise.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: JD and RW are investigators of individual trials included in this review. The authors declare that they have no other competing interests. This does not alter the authors' adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow diagram for identification, screening, assessing eligibility, and inclusion in systematic review.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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