Telephone counseling and face-to-face counseling are equally effective in helping people maintain weight loss, say researchers from the University of Florida.
In this new study, 234 obese women aged 50 to 75 completed a six-month weight loss program and lost an average of 22 pounds.
After losing weight, they were divided into three groups. Two groups received telephone or face-to-face weight control counseling, while the third group received printed health education materials.
After one year, the women in both counseling groups regained an average of 2.5 pounds, while those who didn't receive counseling regained an average of eight pounds.
Telephone counseling gives people a cost-effective alternative to face-to-face visits - especially when distance is a barrier to recieving nutrition care.
Would you like a personalized nutrition plan from a dietitian who offers in person or telephone counseling? Click here to find out more about Leslie Beck's Nutrition Program for long-term weight management.
This study was the first to show the effectiveness of telephone counseling for weight management in people who live in rural areas. It was published in the November 24th, 2008 issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
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