Two-year follow-up of a behavioural weight control programme for adolescents in Singapore: predictors of long-term weight loss.

We followed up 112 obese adolescents enrolled in a weight control programme at a polytechnic institute in Singapore for two years. The programme used behavioural and environmental strategies to help students make sustained changes in their diet and physical activity pattern. Of these 112 students, 71.4% lost weight compared to 60% in a comparison group of 86 obese students not in the programme. About one-third (29.5%) had achieved normal weight [body mass index (BMI) < 25] with a mean weight loss of 3.3 kg among boys and 2.3 kg among girls. A stepwise multiple linear regression to determine the best combination of variables predictive of weight loss found three variables to be significantly associated with long-term weight loss: percent of weight loss in the initial 8-week intervention period; increase in exercise or physical activity following intervention, and income. These 3 variables accounted jointly for 59.5% of the variance in weight loss in males and 48% of weight loss in females. We recommend intensive efforts during the initial intervention phase to help students lose weight and strategies that can help students incorporate exercise or increased physical activity in their daily routine.