The new england journ<strong>al</strong> of medicineA Low-Fat, Average-Protein20B Low-Fat, High-Protein20Change in Weight from Baseline to 2 Yr (kg)100−10−20−30−40N=169Slope=−0.179Change in Weight from Baseline to 2 Yr (kg)100−10−20−30−40N=157Slope=−0.1910 10 20 30 40 50 600 10 20 30 40 50 60No. of Sessions AttendedNo. of Sessions AttendedC High-Fat, Average-Protein20D High-Fat, High-Protein20Change in Weight from Baseline to 2 Yr (kg)100−10−20−30−40N=151Slope=−0.252Change in Weight from Baseline to 2 Yr (kg)100−10−20−30−40N=168Slope=−0.2170 10 20 30 40 50 600 10 20 30 40 50 60No. of Sessions AttendedNo. of Sessions AttendedFigure 3. Change in Body Weight from Baseline to 2 Years According to Attendance at Counseling Sessions for Weight Loss,among the 645 Participants Who Compl<strong>et</strong>ed the Study.Panel A shows data for the low-fat, average-protein AUTHOR: group; Panel <strong>Sacks</strong> B, for the low-fat, RETAKE high-protein 1st group; Panel C, for the high-fat, averageproteingroup; and Panel D, for the high-fat, high-proteinICMREG F FIGURE: group. 3 of 4There were no significant differences 2nd among the regression coefficients3rd(P>0.2 for <strong>al</strong>l comparisons; R 2 = 0.2 for tot<strong>al</strong> cohort).CASERevisedEMailLine 4-CSIZEARTIST: tsH/T H/TEnon36p6ComboAUTHOR, PLEASE NOTE:Figure has been redrawn and type has been res<strong>et</strong>.Please check carefully.36009 ISSUE:to high-protein or low-fat go<strong>al</strong>s but not to thego<strong>al</strong>s in the average-protein or high-fat groups.However, attendance had a strong association withJOB:weight loss, and the association was similar acrossdi<strong>et</strong> groups. We view attendance at counseling sessionsas a proxy for commitment to achievingweight loss and for engagement in the program.Study participants who attended two thirds of thesessions over the course of 2 years lost about 9 kgof weight. Regain after 6 to 12 months was about20% of the regain reported in earlier tri<strong>al</strong>s. 28 Sever<strong>al</strong>recent tri<strong>al</strong>s have <strong>al</strong>so shown that continued02-26-09contact with participants after weight loss is associatedwith less regain. 12,24,37,38 These findingstog<strong>et</strong>her point to behavior<strong>al</strong> factors rather thanmacronutrient m<strong>et</strong>abolism as the main influenceson weight loss.Conformity to cultur<strong>al</strong> norms, scientific nov-870n engl j med 360;9 nejm.org february 26, <strong>2009</strong>Downloaded from www.nejm.org on March 14, <strong>2009</strong> . For person<strong>al</strong> use only. No other uses without permission.Copyright © <strong>2009</strong> Massachus<strong>et</strong>ts Medic<strong>al</strong> Soci<strong>et</strong>y. All rights reserved.
Weight-Loss Di<strong>et</strong>s with Different Compositions of MacronutrientsA High Fat0B Low Fat0Weight Loss (kg)−5−10Weight Loss (kg)−5−10Fat Intake (% kc<strong>al</strong>)Sessions Attended (%)24.354.531.253.135.254.939.647.345.548.7Fat Intake (% kc<strong>al</strong>)Sessions Attended (%)19.461.625.161.428.755.234.548.841.540.7C High Protein0D Average Protein0Weight Loss (kg)−5−10Weight Loss (kg)−5−10Protein Intake (% kc<strong>al</strong>)Sessions Attended (%)15.341.618.248.520.355.022.058.425.659.3Protein Intake (% kc<strong>al</strong>)Sessions Attended (%)14.554.016.847.818.456.020.357.124.148.7Figure 4. Weight Loss at 2 Years According to Adherence to Di<strong>et</strong>ary Fat and Protein Go<strong>al</strong>s.Intake was d<strong>et</strong>ermined from three 24-hour di<strong>et</strong> rec<strong>al</strong>ls. Quintiles of fat and protein intakes are shown for the combined high-fat groups(Panel A), low-fat groups (Panel B), high-protein groups AUTHOR: (Panel <strong>Sacks</strong> C), and average-protein RETAKEgroups 1st(Panel D); there were 45 to 51 participantsper quintile. Rates of attendance at group sessionsICMREG F FIGURE: (percent 4 of 4 of tot<strong>al</strong> sessions attended 2nd over the 2-year period) are shown for thequintiles of fat and protein intake. I bars indicate 95% confidence interv<strong>al</strong>s. P v<strong>al</strong>ues for a trend 3rd in weight loss across quintiles are as follows:P