Cross-cultural differences in weight loss maintenance: a comparison between North America and Europe
Main finding · Weekly self-weighingResult — go to the resultOdds ratio 1.7 95% CI 1.1–2.5Authors' conclusion
Weight loss maintainers in North America and Europe differed in restaurant eating and self-weighing practices but otherwise reported similar behavioral, psychological, and environmental strategies.
Study context
- Population
- WeightWatchers members who had maintained a ≥ 9.1 kg (21.7 kg on average) weight loss for ≥1 year (5.3 years on average); current mean BMI 29.9 kg/m²
- Participants
- 3,656 vs 624
- Exposure
- Weight loss maintainers in North America vs Europe
- North American = 3,656
- Europen = 624reference
- Outcome
- Weekly self-weighing
Methodological detailsvalidated surveys
- Validated surveys
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Odds ratio
1.7
95% CI 1.1–2.5
By group
North Americavs Europe
OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.1–2.5)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Eating at fast food restaurants ≥weekly
7.7 (CI 3.9–14.3) · P < 0.001
| Outcome | North America | Europe | Estimate | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eating at other restaurants ≥weekly | 29.7% | 17.3% | OR 1.47 (CI 1.2–2.1) | P < 0.001 | |
| Multivariable regression: strongest differentiators | OR (fast food consumption) 10.8 (CI 4.6–25.5) | P < 0.001 | |||
| Multivariable regression: strongest differentiators | OR (self-weighing) 1.9 (CI 1.2,3.0) | P < 0.01 | |||
| 0.050.21520Ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | North America | Europe | ηp2 | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body image score | 21.4 | 20.7 | 0.253 | P < 0.001 |
| Body satisfaction score | 28.7 | 22.8 | 0.248 | P < 0.001 |
| Weight bias internalization | 3.0 | 3.1 | 0.320 | P < 0.001 |
| Shape concerns | 2.3 | 2.4 | 0.181 | P < 0.001 |
| Weight concerns | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.176 | P < 0.001 |
| Quality of life | 75.0 | 73.4 | 0.154 | P < 0.001 |
| General health perception | 72.3 | 68.1 | 0.187 | P < 0.00 |
| Physical functioning | 81.3 | 79.2 | 0.252 | P < 0.001 |
Original publication
Cross-cultural differences in weight loss maintenance: a comparison between North America and Europe. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 24 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →