The National Weight Control Registry collects data on people who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for at least a year. After 8 years and with 3,200 people now registered, the Registry is becoming a useful resource for understanding weight control. Some findings reported to the recent meeting of the American Diabetes Association include:

• Almost three-quarters have 1 or 2 overweight parents.
• Nearly 19% reported being overweight since before the age of 18.
• Their lifetime weight cycling score - the amount of weight they had lost and then gained back - was 271 pounds.
• These individuals succeeded in losing weight and keeping it off by eating healthful diets of 24% fat, 56% carbohydrates, and 19% protein.
• They are also quite active, with 91% reporting some sort of regular physical activity.

At one-year follow-up, 59% continued to maintain their weight loss, 6% lost additional weight, and 35% had regained more than 5 pounds. Those who regained weight had larger initial weight loss and higher levels of depression and binge eating.

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