The role of social support in weight loss maintenance: results from the MedWeight study

Abstract

The role of social support in weight management is not fully understood, as more support has been linked to both favorable and unfavorable outcomes. We examined social support in relation to weight loss maintenance, comparing between maintainers and regainers of weight loss. The MedWeight study is a Greek registry of people who have intentionally lost ≥10 % of their weight and are either maintaining this loss for over a year (maintainers), or have regained weight (regainers). Demographics and lifestyle habits questionnaires are completed online. Dietary assessment is carried out by two telephone 24 h recalls. Perceived social support was assessed by validated scales examining support from family and friends regarding healthy eating and exercise. 289 maintainers and 122 regainers participated. Regainers received more support compared to maintainers. However, maintainers reported receiving compliments and active participation, whereas regainers receiving verbal instructions and encouragements. Maintainers who received diet support displayed improved dietary intakes, such as lower energy intake; regainers' diet was unaffected by support. Positive, rather than instructive, support appears beneficial in weight loss maintenance.

Attenuating the Biologic Drive for Weight Regain Following Weight Loss: Must What Goes Down Always Go Back Up?

“…Note, those enrolled in the NWCR are not representative of all individuals who have attempted weight loss and who have experienced long-term maintenance, but rather are self-selected based on their success. Nevertheless, some findings from the NWCR are supported by those from the MedWeight registry in Greece, which includes both weight loss maintainers and regainers [82,83,84,85,86]. Among male registrants, weight loss maintainers were found to exhibit greater physical activity (approximately 200 kcal/day more than regainers), greater adherence to a dietary pattern emphasizing home-cooked meals, fruits, vegetables, unprocessed grains, nuts, lean proteins, low-fat dairy products, and olive oil, and lower daily intakes of salty snacks, sugary soda beverages, and alcohol.…”

Experiences of using very low energy diets for weight loss by people with overweight or obesity: a review of qualitative research

“…Support from family and friends was seen as being important to participants in the studies included in this review and is well documented to be an important part of weight loss that can either help or hinder progress depending on the type of support offered . On the contrary, participants viewed a lack of support as being a possible distraction from weight loss attempts.…”

Long-Term Body Weight Maintenance among StrongWomen–Healthy Hearts Program Participants

“…Social support for healthy eating was likewise associated with long-term BMI maintenance. Results of other studies that examine social support and weight loss maintenance are inconsistent, although there is some evidence that compliments and active participation may be helpful while verbal instruction and encouragement may be perceived negatively [18]. To help elucidate the role of social support in weight maintenance, future studies may use mixed methods in which type of support is examined and qualitative data are collected to determine how different types of support are perceived.…”

“…In some studies, social support has been linked with greater effectiveness of interventions in promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and weight loss at 18 or more months [12, 15, 16]. However, in the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial [17] and in other studies [18], social support from family and friends appeared to hinder long-term maintenance of weight loss. Type of social support received may help explain these contradictory findings [18].…”

“…However, in the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial [17] and in other studies [18], social support from family and friends appeared to hinder long-term maintenance of weight loss. Type of social support received may help explain these contradictory findings [18]. Associations between self-efficacy and long-term maintenance of weight loss have been somewhat more consistent [19–23].…”