Weight Loss Best Practice: Delphi Assessement and Literature Review

Weight loss and weight maintenance require different behavioral and lifestyle approaches as well as different skill sets. This presentation will describe best practice for both weight loss and weight maintenance. Findings are based on a comprehensive review of the behavioral, cognitive, self-help, clinical, and programmatic literatures for effective techniques to weight loss and to weight maintenance. Additionally, results of a Delphi assessment of the weighted importance of various techniques and approaches by the top weight loss researchers in the world. The presentation will discuss 23 general and theoretical approaches to weight control, as well as 76 specific weight loss or maintenance techniques. Categories discussed include: self monitoring, stimulus control, contingency management, cognitive restructuring, social support, diet, physical activity, weight loss pacing, and programmatic characteristics. By the conclusion of the presentation, participants will able to discuss best practice in weight loss and maintenance including: 1) describing which techniques have been shown to be most effective in research, and 2) explaining which approaches and techniques are most recommended by experts.