Commercial weight loss programs may be just as good -- if not better -- than those that come from a health care professional.

A new study showed that people enrolled in Weight Watchers lost as much weight on average as people who were guided by a medical professional.

"Group-based weight-loss treatment produced weight loss, whether delivered by a professional or peer counselor," study author Angela Marinilli Pinto, assistant professor of psychology at Baruch College of the City University of New York, told HealthDay. "When people are in a group with others on the same journey, they feel there is that element of, 'OK, this worked for him or her, perhaps it will work for me. Perhaps I can give it a try.'"

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of American adults - 35.7 percent are obese. An additional 33.3 percent are overweight.

The researchers followed 141 overweight or obese men and women, and assigned them to one of three weight loss methods.

26 Photos

One group got 48 weeks of behavioral weight-loss treatment led by a medical advisor. The Weight Watchers group was enrolled in the program for 48 weeks and were expected to attend meetings, which were led by fellow members who had reached and maintained a healthy goal weight. The third group was first given 12 weeks of weight-loss treatment led by a medical professional, and then were enrolled in 36 weeks of Weight Watchers. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health but all of the Weight Watchers program costs were covered by the company.

At the end of the 48 week study, the group advised by medical professionals lost on average 11.9 pounds, the Weight Watchers group lost 13.2 pounds and the combination group lost 7.9 pounds. Overall the numbers were not considered statistically different from one another.

One-third of the Weight Watchers group lost 10 percent or more of their starting weight, compared to only 11 percent of the health professional group and 15 percent of a group that had a combination program.

"The Weight Watchers group produced better weight loss than this novel approach [of combining peer and professional]," Pinto said. "Better meeting attendance is associated with better weight losses."

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Weight Watchers compared to doctor's advice in study

Commercial weight loss programs may be just as good -- if not better -- than those that come from a health care professional.

A new study showed that people enrolled in Weight Watchers lost as much weight on average as people who were guided by a medical professional.

"Group-based weight-loss treatment produced weight loss, whether delivered by a professional or peer counselor," study author Angela Marinilli Pinto, assistant professor of psychology at Baruch College of the City University of New York, told HealthDay. "When people are in a group with others on the same journey, they feel there is that element of, 'OK, this worked for him or her, perhaps it will work for me. Perhaps I can give it a try.'"

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of American adults - 35.7 percent are obese. An additional 33.3 percent are overweight.

The researchers followed 141 overweight or obese men and women, and assigned them to one of three weight loss methods.

26 Photos

One group got 48 weeks of behavioral weight-loss treatment led by a medical advisor. The Weight Watchers group was enrolled in the program for 48 weeks and were expected to attend meetings, which were led by fellow members who had reached and maintained a healthy goal weight. The third group was first given 12 weeks of weight-loss treatment led by a medical professional, and then were enrolled in 36 weeks of Weight Watchers. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health but all of the Weight Watchers program costs were covered by the company.

At the end of the 48 week study, the group advised by medical professionals lost on average 11.9 pounds, the Weight Watchers group lost 13.2 pounds and the combination group lost 7.9 pounds. Overall the numbers were not considered statistically different from one another.

One-third of the Weight Watchers group lost 10 percent or more of their starting weight, compared to only 11 percent of the health professional group and 15 percent of a group that had a combination program.

"The Weight Watchers group produced better weight loss than this novel approach [of combining peer and professional]," Pinto said. "Better meeting attendance is associated with better weight losses."

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Weight Watchers compared to seeing a doctor in study

TUESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that if you want to lose weight, don't try to do it alone.

"Group-based weight-loss treatment produced weight loss, whether delivered by a professional or peer counselor," said study author Angela Marinilli Pinto, assistant professor of psychology at Baruch College of the City University of New York. "When people are in a group with others on the same journey, they feel there is that element of, 'OK, this worked for him or her, perhaps it will work for me. Perhaps I can give it a try.'"

The research was published Oct. 9 in the journal Obesity.

Pinto and her team randomly assigned 141 overweight or obese men and women to one of three groups.

One group got 48 weeks of behavioral weight-loss treatment from a health professional.

A second group participated for 48 weeks in Weight Watchers, where the meetings are led by members who have achieved and maintained a healthy goal weight.

A third group got combined treatment. They first had 12 weeks of behavioral weight-loss treatment from a health professional, and then transitioned to 36 weeks of Weight Watchers participation.

Pinto said she chose Weight Watchers because it is the largest commercial program in the United States. It is also oriented to behavior change and included information on modifying the diet and increasing physical activity to lose weight and maintain the loss.

Pinto's team was testing the hypothesis that the combination approach would produce a bigger weight loss than going to Weight Watchers alone. Starting with the professionally trained leaders, she thought, would be a good jump start to the weight-loss program.

The findings were a surprise. At 48 weeks, the researchers found no evidence that adding brief treatment led by professionals, and then transitioning to the Weight Watchers program, improved results.

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Group Programs for Weight Loss May Work Best

Commercial weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers may be just as effective in losing weight as clinical programs, and the key ingredient to success in both programs is buddying up, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Obesity.

In the study, 141 overweight and obese adults were randomly assigned into one of three groups -- a weight-loss behavioral program led by a health professional, or Weight Watchers, led by peers who had achieved their own weight-loss success, or a combination of both programs.

Overweight and obese adults who participate in any of the three weight-loss treatments that involved group counseling, whether it was with a health professional or with peers, as well as physical activity and diet change lost a significant amount of weight nearly a year later, the study found.

"When people who are working on a similar problem get together, they can support each other so they don't feel alone in this weight-loss journey," said Angela Pinto, assistant professor of psychology at Baruch College of the City University of New York and lead researcher.

"With the group idea, there's a sense of belonging," said Pinto, adding that participants may be more likely to complete their weight-loss goal when others are working with them.

Participants in both programs lost about the same amount of weight in total. However, more than double the number of participants enrolled in the Weight Watchers program lost 10 percent or more of their starting weight compared with the other two groups.

The outcome of the study showed that Weight Watchers can produce clinically relevant weight loss, according to Pinto.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are considered overweight or obese, according to the American Dietetic Association.

The study is the first to provide a head-to-head comparison between a commercial weight loss program and a clinical weight loss program.

The findings suggest that people who are looking to lose weight more affordably can still do so successfully, the researchers said.

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Study: Weight Watchers as Successful as Clinical Weight-Loss Programs

Commercial weight-loss programs like Weight Watchers may be just as effective in losing weight as clinical programs, and the key ingredient to success in both programs is buddying up, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Obesity.

In the study, 141 overweight and obese adults were randomly assigned into one of three groups -- a weight-loss behavioral program led by a health professional, or Weight Watchers, led by peers who had achieved their own weight-loss success, or a combination of both programs.

Overweight and obese adults who participate in any of the three weight-loss treatments that involved group counseling, whether it was with a health professional or with peers, as well as physical activity and diet change lost a significant amount of weight nearly a year later, the study found.

"When people who are working on a similar problem get together, they can support each other so they don't feel alone in this weight-loss journey," said Angela Pinto, assistant professor of psychology at Baruch College of the City University of New York and lead researcher.

"With the group idea, there's a sense of belonging," said Pinto, adding that participants may be more likely to complete their weight-loss goal when others are working with them.

Participants in both programs lost about the same amount of weight in total. However, more than double the number of participants enrolled in the Weight Watchers program lost 10 percent or more of their starting weight compared with the other two groups.

The outcome of the study showed that Weight Watchers can produce clinically relevant weight loss, according to Pinto.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are considered overweight or obese, according to the American Dietetic Association.

The study is the first to provide a head-to-head comparison between a commercial weight loss program and a clinical weight loss program.

The findings suggest that people who are looking to lose weight more affordably can still do so successfully, the researchers said.

Read more here:
Study: Weight Watchers Equals Clinical Programs

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --A new National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study conducted at Baruch College and published in Obesity found that overweight and obese adults who participated in three different weight loss treatments, all involving intensive, multi-component counseling delivered in groups, lost significant weight after 48 weeks whether the treatment was led by a health professional or by someone who had previous weight loss success.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121009/NY89964-INFO)

This randomized clinical trial led by Angela Marinilli Pinto, PhD Assistant Professor of Psychology at Baruch College, is the first to compare professionally delivered group-based behavioral weight loss treatment considered the "gold standard" for treating moderate overweight and obesity- to Weight Watchers, which is led by trained peer counselors who have achieved their own successful weight loss. The findings open up the possibility of offering effective, affordable weight loss options to more Americans.

In this study, 141 overweight and obese men and women were randomly assigned to:

Weight Watchers was chosen because it is the largest commercial program in the United States and is behaviorally oriented and focuses on modifying diet and increasing physical activity to produce weight loss. The investigators hypothesized that the combined treatment would produce better weight losses than Weight Watchers alone. Assessments were conducted at baseline and weeks 12, 24, and 48, with weight change as the primary outcome.

All groups lost weight, but contrary to expectations, Weight Watchers participants lost more weight, on average, at the end of treatment compared to participants in the combination approach (mean weight loss in the professionally led program was not significantly different from either group). In fact, 37% ofWeight Watchers participants lost 10% or more of their starting weight compared to 15% of combined group participants and 11% of participants in the professionally led group.

Results of the study also showed that better meeting attendance was associated with greater weight losses during the first 24 weeks in all treatments. In the Weight Watchers group, this relationship was maintained even in the second half of treatment, suggesting that individuals who continue to stay involved in the Weight Watchers program do better.

"This study is important because, with almost 70% of American adults classified as overweight or obese, there is a need to provide practical treatment solutions that are effective, accessible, and affordable," Dr. Pinto explained. "Results of this study demonstrate that the Weight Watchers program can produce clinically meaningful weight losses." The cost of joining Weight Watchers is approximately $10 per week, which includes member registration, weekly meetings, and access to online resources.

This study (A.M. Pinto et al: Combining behavioral weight loss treatment and a commercial program: a randomized clinical trial. Obesity 2012; DOI: 10.1002/oby.20044) was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health. The mission of the NIH is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

About Baruch College: Baruch College is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) with a total enrollment of more than 17,000 students, who represent 160 countries and speak more than 100 languages. Ranked among the top 15% of U.S. colleges and the No. 5 public regional university, Baruch College is regularly recognized as among the most ethnically diverse colleges in the country. As a public institution with a tradition of academic excellence, Baruch College offers accessibility and opportunity for students from every corner of New York City and from around the world. For more about Baruch College, go to http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/.

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Baruch College Professor Leads NIH Study On Weight Loss Interventions