Brief coaching intervention to reverse weight regain during weight loss maintenance: a preliminary randomized controlled trial

Objective:Most individuals who complete a behavioral weight loss intervention (BWLI) regain weight. The current study is a preliminary investigation into the efficacy of a telephone coaching intervention to aid recovery from weight regain during weight loss maintenance.

Methods:Participants (n = 77) who had recently completed a BWLI and had lost ≥ 5% of their initial body weight were instructed to engage in daily weighing using a "smart" scale. Participants were randomized to receive four consecutive weeks of brief coaching phone calls or no intervention. Randomization was activated when individuals regained > 1.5% of their baseline weight. Assessments were completed at baseline and 12 months.

Results:Sixty-six participants (M ± SD age = 54.2 ± 9.9 years, 68% female) regained > 1.5% and were included in analyses. Individuals who received coaching completed 3.9 ± 0.5 calls and showed statistically-significant improvements in weight compared to the control group in the short-term (i.e., from randomization activation to 40 days later; M±SE Coaching: -1.05%±0.30 vs. Control: 0.37%±0.31, p < 0.001). However, there were not significant differences in weight regain by group at the 12-month study end (Coaching: 5.18%±0.72 vs. Control: 5.71%±0.76, p = 0.62).

Conclusions:Brief telephone coaching is a promising intervention for reversing short-term weight regain. Future research should focus on improving the coaching intervention to promote long-term weight loss maintenance, including exploration into offering multiple rounds of coaching.

Clinical trial registration:NCT04293055.