For many people, losing weight is not the biggest challenge. The real problem often begins afterward, when the kilos start to return.
According to HealthDay, around 80 percent of people who are overweight regain some or all of the weight within three to five years after losing it.
Researchers are therefore searching for solutions that can help people maintain their new weight over a longer period.
Lifestyle programs produced the best results
A new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reviewed data from nearly 4,000 adult participants across several different weight-loss studies.
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Some participants received dietary guidance and were encouraged to be more physically active in their daily lives. Others followed only a diet plan or received no treatment at all.
According to the study, participants in the lifestyle programs lost an average of around four kilograms over eight months.
8500 steps
Researchers identified one key difference between the groups.
People who walked around 8,500 steps per day during and after their weight loss found it easier to keep the weight off.
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Participants who were less active did not achieve the same results.
Sources: HealthDay and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
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