Hurrah?
So first off it's not remotely surprising that putting two groups on the exact same diet (25-35% energy restriction) but starting one group off with 4 months of extreme energy restriction sees those who had the extreme jump start lose more in total.
Secondly, it would appear that the extreme folks have a weight gain trajectory that may well erase the differences over time.
And thirdly, this got me thinking. Behavioural weight loss programs, because they don't involve products (unless medications are being tested, and here they were not), have outcomes that are likely significantly dependent on both material, and perhaps more importantly, on the service providers. Consequently I do wonder about the ability of any of these sorts of studies to be applicable to other offices or programs. Meaning here at least, it would appear the extreme folks did better, and the moderate folks dropped out more often (perhaps consequent to slower than desired initial losses), but would the same necessarily be true at a different site, with the same restrictions but with different service providers, collateral materials, attention and support?
I'd venture those things matter a great deal more than is generally ever mentioned in the medical literature.
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