After a 30-month weight loss program that included personal contact, adding another 30 months offered no added benefit, according to a study involving more than 400 individuals. Still, those originally receiving such contact lost slightly more weight.

196 participants—who were part of 2 earlier phases of the Weight Loss Maintenance randomized trial—were re-randomized to an additional 30 months of personal contact or a control group that received no further intervention. Investigators also followed 218 self-directed participants. Among the results:

• After re-randomization, weight increased 1.0 kg in the active group, and 0.5 kg in the control group.

• Average weight change over the entire study was −3.2 kg in those originally assigned to personal contact, and −1.6 kg in self-directed individuals.

Citation: Coughlin J, Brantley P, Champagne C, et al. The impact of continued intervention on weight: Five-year results from the Weight Loss Maintenance trial. Obesity. 2016;24(5):1046-1053. doi:10.1002/oby.21454.