What is the National Weight Control Registry?

The National Weight Control Registry is an archive in the US for people who are successfully losing weight. The registry includes people who had lost at least 30 lb in 1 year and maintained weight loss for an average of 5.5 years. Total weight loss ranges from 30 to 90 lb. There are more than five thousand people in the registry, proving that weight loss and its maintenance is possible.

Most subjects in the National Weight Control Registry are white women; men comprise only 20% of participants, and few minorities are represented. Most subjects are aged 44 to 69 years, but all are older than 18 years.

Successful weight losers claimed following changes:

1. Ate low fat, low calorie meals averaging about 1000-1800 calories per day.
2. Engaged in high-intensity physical activity equal to about 2700 calories per week, about 8,000 to 12,000 steps per day or about 26 miles per week.
3. Weighed daily or at least weekly
4. Limited TV viewing to less than 10 hours per week
5. Ate breakfast daily
6. Continuously controlled dietary restraints in regards to refined sugars. There was no benefit from types of diet (Atkins or low carbohydrate)
7. Maintained dietary consistency; no holidays or vacation breaks.
8. Limited the fast food to less than once a month
9. Limited the variety of foods, eating what gives satiety.