Last month’s journal of the ADA (American Dietetic Association) had an interesting meta-analysis of weight-loss interventions. A meta-analysis pulls together a large number of studies that investigate the same thing, and try to pull stronger conclusions from them. This sort of study can be great to get an overall status of the literature on the primary outcomes of particular topic, but the strengths, weaknesses and bias and secondary outcomes of particular studies get washed out.
Get a better look at this chart & others in the pdf of the article, below.
The meta-analysis looked at outcomes from weight-loss clinical trials with a minimum of one-year follow-up. Eighty studies were included, representing eight interventions – diet alone, diet and exercise, exercise alone, meal replacement, very-low-energy diets, weight-loss medications (orlistat and sibutramine) and advice alone. A mean weight loss of 5 to 8.5 kg (that’s 11 to 18.7 lbs) was noted during the first 6 months from intervention involving a reduced-energy diet and/or weight-loss medications with weight plateaus at approximately 6 months. In studies extending to 48 months, a means 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2) of weight loss was maintained with every approach with the exception of advice-only and exercise-only, and none of the groups experiencing weight regain to baseline. In contrast, advice-only and exercise-alone groups experienced minimal weight loss. Very low calorie diets resulted in rapid loss and regain, with a gaining trend at the time when follow-up ended.
Annie’s thoughts: The biggest take-home message is that again we see that combining a weight-conscious diet with physical activity is the way to go if you are interested in long-term weight management. While the losses presented may not look to be much for the effort, keep in mind that for those who are overweight or obese, even moderate weight loss can result in significant reductions in chronic disease. Meal replacements and very low calorie diets seem to be short-term solutions. As far as the weight-loss drug outcomes, orlistat (a drug that blocks the absorption of fat), and sibutamine (an appetite suppressant) both have pretty significant and unpleasant side effects. I want to take a closer look at the diet drug studies to see who sponsored those particular studies, what side effects were tolerated for the extra pound or two of loss and what happened over the longer term.
Here’s a copy of the article:
Article – Comparison of Interventions
All the best –
Annie BK
Another sticker on the book! USA Book News has announced their results from thousands of new books, and Every Bite Is Divine was a finalist in the diet & health category. This is our second award: we were also a finalist for the 2007 Nautilus Awards, honoring books on conscious living and positive social change.
Two beautiful workshops last weekend. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity and ability to do this work, and thanks to Janet Green Garrison of Yoga for Health in Gloucester, MA, and to Chip Hartranft of the Arlington Center for hosting me and gathering their communities.
I find the people I meet through this very sweet and very brave. To do the work of holding what’s uncomfortable up to the light and examining it without judgement, and with compassion is big stuff, and perhaps the very essence of developing conscious awareness. Thanks to all to came & participated, and I hope to continue to share your journey.
I did make a couple promises, and one was to share this writing from Swami Kripalvanandaji, the beloved spiritual leader of early Kripalu. Here it is:
My beloved child,
break your heart no longer.
Each time you judge yourself,
you break your own heart.
You stop feeding on the love
wheich is the wellspring of you vitality.
The time has come. Your time.
To live.
To celebrate.
And to see the goodness that you are.
You my child, are divine.
You are pure.
You are sublimely free.
You are God in disguise.
And you are always perfectly safe.
Do not fight the dark.
Just turn on the light.
Let go,
and breathe into the goodness that you are.
I’ve also promised to post my slides from the talk. Soon come.
Be well.
Annie
Green is definitely the new black. But is going green a shopping fad or the seed of a deepening conscious movement? SUV hybrids? In my mind, it’s all good – the more people become aware of the issues and alternatives, the more people will realize that every choice they make initiates a ripple ’round the world. There are a growing number of high quality and inspirational sources for those who love great food but wonder if the American food-industrial-complex is the chemical cocktail it at times appears.
For starters, if you haven’t 
seen films, take a look. A funny, goofy presentation of an underlying truth in our modern food system. In addition to the films, they’ll link you in to resources for finding sustainable meats and other foods in your community through the Eating Well Guide, a comprehensive listing of sources for sustainable whole foods suppliers, chefs, restaurants, and farms.
What’s in that blue pill, anyway?
May you be healthy, happy and stand in the light of your own truest self.
Annie
If you are interested in the cultural issues that underlie the obesity epidemic, the Rudd Center at Yale’s website is required reading. They have done some great research on the social stigmatization around weight, and in my opinion have some of the most progressive and comprehensive ideas on making real change at the national level.
Here’s some info from their site on the shift in public opinion around obesity. Interesting reading!
There has been an interesting trajectory of public opinion about obesity. The majority of Americans are clearly concerned with obesity and there is growing support for obesity-targeted policies. The following table presents the changes that have been found in support of strategies that influence the environment in order to promote better nutrition.
| Trends in Public Opinion |
2001 |
2003 |
2004 |
| Favor taxing foods |
33% |
40% |
54% |
| Favor restricting children’s food advertising |
57% |
56% |
73% |
| Favor soft drink / snack food bans in schools |
47% |
59% |
69% |
| Favor required calorie labeling in restaurants |
|
74% |
80% |
Source: Brownell KD. The chronicling of obesity: Growing awareness of its social, economic, and political contexts. J of Health Politics and Law. 2005; 955-64.
