Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs
Authors: William S. Yancy, Anna Beth Barton, Megan A. McVay, Corrine I. Voils
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

Letters1 September 2015Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss ProgramsWilliam S. Yancy Jr., MD, Anna Beth Barton, MD, Megan A. McVay, PhD, and Corrine I. Voils, PhDWilliam S. Yancy Jr., MDFrom Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.Search for more papers by this author, Anna Beth Barton, MDFrom Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.Search for more papers by this author, Megan A. McVay, PhDFrom Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.Search for more papers by this author, and Corrine I. Voils, PhDFrom Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L15-5130-2 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Gudzune and colleagues' review (1) underscores the need to enhance the modest weight loss that lifestyle or behavioral interventions typically produce. However, the manner in which they convey the designs and results of the included trials, although succinct, could be misinterpreted. First, the authors describe the comparators for the commercial programs as “control/education” (that is, placebo) or “behavioral counseling” (that is, active control). “Behavioral counseling” does not completely describe the comparator interventions, many of which included dietary and physical activity counseling over many visits and some of which differed only in terms of the macronutrient composition (2–4). ...References1. Gudzune KA, Doshi RS, Mehta AK, Chaudhry ZW, Jacobs DK, Vakil RM, et al. Efficacy of commercial weight-loss programs: an updated systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:501-12. [PMID: 25844997] doi:10.7326/M14-2238 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Foster GD, Wyatt HR, Hill JO, Makris AP, Rosenbaum DL, Brill C, et al. Weight and metabolic outcomes after 2 years on a low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153:147-57. [PMID: 20679559] doi:10.7326/0003-4819-153-3-201008030-00005 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Gardner CD, Kiazand A, Alhassan S, Kim S, Stafford RS, Balise RR, et al. Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets for change in weight and related risk factors among overweight premenopausal women: the A TO Z Weight Loss Study: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2007;297:969-77. [PMID: 17341711] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Shai I, Schwarzfuchs D, Henkin Y, Shahar DR, Witkow S, Greenberg I, et al; Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Group. Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or low-fat diet. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:229-41. [PMID: 18635428] doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0708681 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Wee CC. The role of commercial weight-loss programs [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:522-3. [PMID: 25845000] doi:10.7326/M15-0429 LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L15-0312. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEfficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs Kimberly A. Gudzune , Ruchi S. Doshi , Ambereen K. Mehta , Zoobia W. Chaudhry , David K. Jacobs , Rachit M. Vakil , Clare J. Lee , Sara N. Bleich , and Jeanne M. Clark Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs James T. Langland Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs Kimberly A. Gudzune , Sara N. Bleich , and Jeanne M. Clark Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs Kimberly A. Gudzune , Sara N. Bleich , and Jeanne M. Clark Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs James T. Langland Metrics 1 September 2015Volume 163, Issue 5Page: 398-399KeywordsDisclosureExerciseNutrientsResearch designWeight loss ePublished: 1 September 2015 Issue Published: 1 September 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...