Initial weight loss on an 800-kcal diet as a predictor of weight loss success after 8 weeks: the Diogenes study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pre-treatment subject characteristics and weight change during the first weeks of a low-calorie diet (LCD) can predict weight loss outcomes at the end of a controlled 8-week weight loss period in overweight and obese adults. Subjects: A total of 932 overweight and obese subjects of both genders were included at eight European centers, and underwent an 8-week LCD period. Results: The weight loss at week 8 was positively correlated with initial body weight (Spearman's rho - 0.62), height (rho - 0.43), body mass index (rho - 0.43), waist (rho = 0.48) and hip circumference (rho = 0.33), sagittal diameter (rho = 0.45), fat mass (rho = 0.35) and fat-free mass (rho = 0.52), and gender (rho = -0.36) (all P<0.01). In the multivariate regression model, adjusted for center, only initial body weight, early weight loss (week 1) and weight loss at week 3 were significant predictors of weight loss outcome at week 8: weight loss (kg) at week 8 = 0.09+0.046 x baseline body weight (kg) -0.311 x weight loss (kg) at week 1+1.284 x weight loss (kg) at week 3 (R-2 = 68%, P<0.0001). A weight loss of >= 2.6 kg at week 1 during the LCD period was identified as the optimal cut-off predictor for at least 10 kg weight loss at week 8. Conclusions: This study suggests that initial body weight, early weight loss (week 1) and weight loss at week 3 are predictors of final weight loss during an 8-week LCD, and may be used as early biomarkers of subsequent responses to an LCD diet. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 994-999; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.110; published online 30 June 2010