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Use of a Structured Meal Plan and Key Eating Patterns During Weight Loss Maintenance

Background: OPTAVIA (the "Program") is a holistic commercial weight management program that includes meal replacements (MR), support from a Coach and the OPTAVIA Community, and encourages use of core healthy habits (weight management, eating and hydration, motion, sleep, mind, and surround...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2022-11, Vol.30, p.261-262
Main Authors: Coleman, Chris, Kiel, Jessica, LaCalamita, Chad
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Background: OPTAVIA (the "Program") is a holistic commercial weight management program that includes meal replacements (MR), support from a Coach and the OPTAVIA Community, and encourages use of core healthy habits (weight management, eating and hydration, motion, sleep, mind, and surroundings) to promote a healthier lifestyle. Coaches have often followed the Program themselves and now guide other clients through it. However, it is unclear whether successful maintainers on the Program follow a structured eating plan, their reasons for doing so, and their overall eating pattern. Therefore, this research survey examined the use of a structured meal plan and the eating patterns of Coaches and Clients identified as successful at weight loss maintenance. Methods: Coaches and Clients who lost >10% body weight on the Program, had been trying to maintain their weight loss for >1 year, and maintained >75% of their weight loss during that time were identified. Mean±SD were calculated for continuous variables and categorical variables were quantified using frequencies and percentages. All data were self-reported. Results: The analysis included 590 respondents (342 Coaches, 248 Clients; 84% female, 52.6±11.9 y; current BMI 24.4±4.0 kg/m2). Selfreported average weight loss was 23.7±8.6% and average time in maintenance was 24.5±15.8 months. Maintainers self-reported 5.5±1.0 eating occasions and consumed 2.3±1.7 MR daily. Half (48%) reported following a structured meal plan because it: helped maintain their weight (70%), continued to include Program MR (67%), was easy to follow (62%), and provided structure to include all foods (53%). Conclusions: Successful maintainers continued to incorporate MR and several eating occasions daily, and half used a structured meal plan during weight loss maintenance. These behaviors should be considered when assisting individuals on their weight management journey.
ISSN:1930-7381
1930-739X