Phone Coaching for Weight Loss Maintenance

The purpose of this study was to examine whether 4 consecutive weeks of phone coaching aids in recovery from weight regain during weight loss maintenance. Individuals who previously achieved and maintained a \>=5% weight loss in a 1-year behavioral weight loss program were provided with a low-intensity maintenance intervention (monthly newsletters and smart scale). At baseline, participants were randomized to the coaching group or the control group (no coaching). If participants regained \>1.5% of their weight, randomization was "triggered." At this point, participants randomized to the coaching condition received 4 brief weekly coaching calls; participants randomized to the control condition received no additional intervention contact. Short-term and long-term weight change was assessed and compared between treatment groups.