Effects Of Age And Gender On Short-Term Weight Loss And Long-Term Weight Maintenance

Objective: To determine if there are differences in short-term weight loss and long-term weight maintenance success by age or gender. Methods: Patients were enrolled in a Midwestern weight loss clinic. The primary outcome measures were short-term weight loss success (achieving ? 10% of the initial body weight loss (IBWL) at three months) and long-term weight maintenance success (maintaining ? 10% IBWL at one year). Results: Patients 18 ? 45 years were more likely to achieve short-term weight loss success compared to those in the two other age categories (45-64 and ? 65 years). However, age was not a significant predictor for long-term weight maintenance success. Females had decreased odds (OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.38, 0.59) of achieving short-term weight loss success, but had increased odds (OR=1.94, 95% CI 1.02, 3.67) of achieving long-term weight maintenance success. Discussion: Age and Gender effect were different for short-term weight loss and long-term weight maintenance success.