Overview
- Norwegian researchers presented a randomized trial at the European Congress on Obesity in Turkey involving 284 adults with obesity.
- In the 16‑week rapid plan, participants followed set calorie targets of 1,000, 1,300, then 1,500 kcal, while the gradual group aimed to cut 1,000 kcal a day and reported about 1,400 kcal.
- After 16 weeks, the rapid group lost 12.9% of body weight compared with 8.1% in the gradual group.
- One year later, after an identical 36‑week maintenance program, average losses were 14.4% for the rapid group and 10.5% for the gradual group.
- Lead author Dr Line Kristin Johnson and external expert Dr Marie Spreckley said supervised rapid loss can work and may offer an option for people who cannot access weight‑loss drugs or surgery.