10 proven strategies to help patients maintain weight loss

Recognizing true physiologic hunger distinct from emotional hunger can improve with mindfulness training. This practice might provide a better way to help the so-called yo-yo dieter and binge eater to reach metabolic health. Interestingly, successful weight maintainers who allow themselves less restriction on weekends maintain weight better than those who try to restrict diet every day, according to a recent study.²⁹

Recommend a support group. Accountability is important: Group therapy in obesity treatment may be more effective than individual treatment.³⁰

The support of a group and the regular attendance at group meetings are connected to further significant weight loss in the weight-loss period and, later, during maintenance. Monthly meetings seem to help patients with weight maintenance but more research is needed to determine what interval of support-group meeting attendance is most effective.

CORRESPONDENCE
Marijane Hynes, MD, The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, Fifth Floor/Internal Medicine, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; mhynes@mfa.gwu.edu.