Weight loss in a UK commercial all meal provision study: A randomised controlled trial

Mellor, D. D.; Whitham, C.; Goodwin, S.; Morris, M.; Reid, M.; Atkin, S. L.

Abstract

Background: Effective approaches are needed to address the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. The present study investigated whether all meal provision was a more effective and acceptable method for weight loss than a self-directed diet. Methods: This randomised controlled trial recruited 112 men and women with a body mass index in the range 27-35 kg m -2 , who had no comorbidities, from the local area of Hull. Participants were randomised to receive either meal provision or follow a self-directed diet for a 12-week period that resulted in an estimated 2928 kJ day -1 (700 kcal day -1 ) deficit. A dietitian supervised both dietary interventions. Results: At 12 weeks [mean (SEM)], percentage weight loss in the meal provision group was 6.6% (0.5%) compared to 4.3% (0.6%) for those on the self-directed diet. In terms of clinically relevant weight loss, 61% of participants lost 5% or more of their body weight with meal provision compared to 22% on the self-directed diet (P < 0.001). Weight loss was associated with wellbeing in both groups. Attrition was less apparent with 7% of those participants receiving meal provision withdrawing from the study compared to 41% of those following the self-directed diet (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Meal provision was a more effective and accepted method for weight loss over a 12-week period compared to a self-directed diet. This may in part represent the difference between being given the meal provision food free of charge. However, longer-term maintenance studies need to be undertaken to ascertain their effects on the maintenance of weight loss. © 2014 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

Citation

Mellor, D. D., Whitham, C., Goodwin, S., Morris, M., Reid, M., & Atkin, S. L. (2014). Weight loss in a UK commercial all meal provision study: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 27(4), 377-383. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12171

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Oct 23, 2013
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics
• Print ISSN: 0952-3871
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-277X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 377-383
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12171
• Keywords: Nutrition and Dietetics; Medicine (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/471567
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jhn.12171
• Additional Information: Copy of article published in Journal of human nutrition and dietetics, 2014,v.27, iss. 4 at DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12171