THE NATIONAL WEIGHT CONTROL REGISTRY

Studying Habits and How to Keep Weight Off for Good!

The National Weight Control Registry studies the behaviors of people who have lost 30 pounds or more and have kept the weight off for at least a year.

Conducted by the Brown Medical School’s Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center, here are some of the major findings:

  • The “average” woman is 45 years of age and currently weighs 145 lbs, while the “average” man is 49 years of age and currently weighs 190 lbs.
  • Registry members have lost an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for 5.5 years.
  • These averages, however, hide a lot of diversity:
    • Weight losses have ranged from 30 to 300 pounds.
    • Duration of successful weight loss has ranged from 1 year to 66 years!
    • Some have lost the weight rapidly, while others have lost weight very slowly–over as many as 14 years.
  • 45% of registry participants lost the weight on their own and the other 55% lost weight with the help of some type of program.
  • 98% of registry participants report that they modified their food intake in some way to lose weight.
  • 94% increased their physical activity, with the most frequently reported form of activity being walking.
  • To keep the weight off, participants report that:
    • 78% eat breakfast every day.
    • 75% weigh themselves at least once a week.
    • 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week.
  • 90% exercise, on average, about 1 hour per day.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

The National Weight Control Registry is a research study that seeks to gather information from people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off. The registry would like to hear from anyone 18 years of age or older who has:

  1. Lost at least 30 pounds, and
  2. Maintained a weight loss of at least 30 pounds for one year or more

 

HOW IT WORKS

Individuals enrolling in the registry will be periodically asked to complete questionnaires about their success at losing weight, current weight maintenance strategies and other health-related behaviors. There is no cost to join the registry and compensation is not provided. All names are kept confidential.

If you think you may be eligible to join the registry, please complete the form online or call us toll free at 1-800-606-NWCR (6927).

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