Effects of Prescribing 1,000 versus 1,500 Kilocalories per Day in the Behavioral Treatment of Obesity: A Randomized Trial
HHS Public Access Author manuscript Obesity (Silver Spring). Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 January 17.
Published in final edited form as: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 December ; 21(12): 2481–2487. doi:10.1002/oby.20439.
Effects of Prescribing 1,000 versus 1,500 Kilocalories per Day in the Behavioral Treatment of Obesity: A Randomized Trial
Lisa M. Nackers1, Kathryn R. Middleton1, Pamela J. Dubyak1, Michael J. Daniels2, Stephen D. Anton3, and Michael G. Perri1
1Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
2Department of Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
3Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Abstract
Objective—Controversy exists regarding the optimal energy prescription to promote successful long-term behavioral management of obesity. Prescribing intake of 1,000 (vs. 1,500) kcal/day may produce larger initial weight reduction, but long-term advantage remains unclear. The effects of prescribing 1,000 versus 1,500 kcal/day on 6- and 12-month weight changes within behavioral treatment of obesity were examined. Design and
Methods—Participants were 125 obese women (mean ± SD; BMI ¼ 37.84 ± 3.94 kg/m2 ) randomly assigned goals of 1,000 or 1,500 kcal/day.
Results—From months 0 to 6, participants prescribed 1,000 kcal/day lost more weight than those prescribed 1,500 kcal/day (mean ± SE = −10.03 ± 0.92g vs. −6.23 ± 0.94 kg, P = 0.045); however, from months 7 through 12, only the 1,000 kcal/day condition experienced a significant weight regain (1.51 ± 0.77 kg, P ¼ 0.025). Baseline caloric consumption moderated the effect of treatment on regain; participants with baseline intakes ≥2,000 kcal/day who were assigned 1,000 kcal/day were significantly more susceptible to weight regain than those assigned 1,500 kcal/day (P = 0.049). At month 12, a significantly greater percentage of 1,000 kcal/day participants achieved weight reductions of 5% or more than those prescribed 1,500 kcal/day.
Conclusion—Encouraging obese individuals in behavioral treatment to adhere to a 1,000 kcal/day intake may increase their likelihood of achieving clinically meaningful weight losses.
