Journal article : Review
Effect of planned pauses versus continuous energy restriction on weight loss and attrition: a systematic review
- Abstract:
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Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate whether pausing a weight loss program for a defined period of time could enhance weight loss and reduce attrition.
Methods
Five databases and two trial registries were searched from inception to July 2023. Randomized-controlled trials of adults with overweight and/or obesity were included if they compared planned-pause interventions with continuous energy restriction (CER), usual care, or a minimal intervention. To be included, the weight loss intervention must have incorporated a pause of at least 1 week. Pooled mean differences for weight change and risk ratios for attrition were calculated using random-effects meta-analyses.
Results
Nine intervention arms (N = 796 participants, 77% female) were included. Pooled results did not detect a significant difference in weight change between planned pauses and CER interventions at the end of the active intervention at a median 26 weeks (planned pauses vs. CER mean: −7.09 vs. −7.0 kg; mean difference: −0.09 kg; 95% CI: −1.10 to 0.93) or at final follow-up at a median 52 weeks (planned pauses vs. CER mean: −6.91 vs. −6.19 kg; mean difference: −0.72 kg; 95% CI: −2.92 to 1.48). There was no difference in attrition between planned pauses and CER interventions at the end of the active intervention (risk ratio: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.75) or at final follow-up (risk ratio: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.22).
Conclusions
Planned pauses were consistently found to be no more or less effective than CER for weight loss or attrition.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 2.7MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1002/oby.23976
Authors
+ National Institute for Health Research
More from this funder
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/0187kwz08
- Grant:
- NIHR302549
- Publisher:
- Wiley
- Journal:
- Obesity More from this journal
- Volume:
- 32
- Issue:
- 3
- Pages:
- 454-465
- Place of publication:
- United States
- Publication date:
- 2024-01-21
- Acceptance date:
- 2023-12-01
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1930-739X
- ISSN:
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1930-7381
- Pmid:
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38246879
- Language:
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English
- Subtype:
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Review
- Pubs id:
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1604490
- Local pid:
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pubs:1604490
- Deposit date:
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2025-03-05
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Wren et al
- Copyright date:
- 2024
- Rights statement:
- © 2024 The Authors. Obesity published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Obesity Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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