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. 2017;2(18):114-121.
Epub 2017 Sep 15.

Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors in Primary Care Patients with Recent Intentional Weight Loss

Bethany Barone Gibbs  1 , Dana Tudorascu  1 , Cindy L Bryce  1 , Diane Comer  1 , Gary S Fischer  1 , Rachel Hess  2 , Kimberly A Huber  1 , Kathleen M McTigue  1 , Laurey R Simkin-Silverman  1 , Molly B Conroy  2
Affiliations

Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors in Primary Care Patients with Recent Intentional Weight Loss

Bethany Barone Gibbs et al. Transl J Am Coll Sports Med. 2017.

Abstract

Purpose: Lifestyle habits of primary care patients with recent, intentional weight loss are unclear and need to be better understood to aid in translational health promotion efforts. We aimed to characterize diet and exercise habits in primary care patients with recent, intentional weight loss, comparing those with greater (≥10%) vs. lesser (5 to <10%) weight loss.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized trial comparing weight loss maintenance interventions. The study included primary care patients, 18-75 years old, with ≥5% intentional weight loss via lifestyle change in the past 2 years. Participants (74% female, 87% white) had mean age 53 (12) years, body mass index 30.4 (5.9) kg/m2, and recent weight loss of 11 (8)%. Dietary habits were measured by the Diet Habits Survey. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured by self-report and objectively by pedometer.

Results: On average, participants reported high fruits and vegetables intake (5 servings/day), and low intake of fried foods (1 serving/week), desserts (1 serving/week) and sugar-sweetened beverages (0 servings/week). Those with greater vs. lesser weight loss had higher intake of fruits and vegetables (p=0.037) and low fat foods or recipes (p=0.019). Average self-reported moderate-vigorous physical activity was 319 (281) minutes/week, with significant differences between greater (374 (328) minutes/week) vs. lesser (276 (230) minutes/week) weight loss groups (p=0.017). By pedometer, 30% had ≥7,500 steps/day; the proportion was higher in greater (43%) vs. lesser (19%) weight loss groups (p=0.005).

Conclusions: For weight loss, clinical patients typically employ simple strategies such as 5+ fruits and vegetables per day, fried foods and desserts ≤1 per week, elimination of sugary drinks, choosing low fat foods/recipes, and physical activity 45-60 min/day.

Keywords: diet; physical activity; primary care; sedentary behavior; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Dr. Barone Gibbs received grant funding to her institution from Humanscale to study the health effects of using a sit-stand desk. Drs. Conroy, Hess, and McTigue received royalties paid to the University of Pittsburgh Division of General Internal Medicine from Canary Health for assisting in the development of an online lifestyle program. The other authors report no conflicts of interest. Results of this study do not constitute endorsement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Self-reported Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Primary Care Patients with Recent Weight Loss (n = 192) Overall and by Percentage of Recent Weight Loss
Mod PA = moderate intensity physical activity; Vig PA = vigorous intensity physical activity; Mod-Vig PA = moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity; TV = television; WL = weight loss. * p<0.05 when comparing 5–<10% weight loss to 10% or greater weight loss categories.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Objectively-measured Physical Activity Category in Primary Care Patients with Recent Weight Loss (n = 166) Overall and by Amount of Recent Weight Loss
Sedentary indicates <5,000 steps per day; Low Active indicates 5,000–7,499 steps per day; Active indicates ≥7,500 steps per day. *p<0.05 comparing greater to lesser weight loss groups **p<0.01 comparing greater to lesser weight loss groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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