A new study of nearly 4,000 adults found that people who increased their daily walking to about 8,500 steps during dieting — and maintained it afterwards — were more successful at keeping the pounds off long term.
About 8,500 steps a day may be the sweet spot for keeping weight off after dieting, according to a new study.
Researchers reviewed data from nearly 4,000 adults across multiple clinical trials focused on weight loss and weight maintenance.
Some participants were enrolled in lifestyle programs that offered dietary advice and encouraged more daily walking.
Others were either dieting alone or not receiving any treatment.
The results: People in the lifestyle programs who increased their daily step count to around 8,500 during the weight loss phase — and maintained that level afterwards — were more successful at keeping the pounds off long term.
On average, they lost about nine pounds over roughly eight months — and kept most of it off during the following 10 months.
Meanwhile, the control groups kept averaging about 7,200 steps a day and did not lose any weight.
The lead author says preventing regain is the biggest challenge in obesity treatment. About 80% of patients put some or all of the weight back on within three to five years.
He says, “The identification of a strategy that would solve this problem and help people maintain their new weight would be of huge clinical value.”
Source: European Congress on Obesity, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Author Affiliations: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Beirut Arab University
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