Dietary and physical activity interventions through smartphone healthcare applications (apps) have recently surged in popularity as effective methods for weight loss. However, the specific factors contributing to successful weight loss remain uncertain. We conducted an analysis of baseline characteristics and app usage frequencies over three months among 68 Japanese adults with overweight and obesity who were assigned to the intervention group in a previous randomized controlled trial. Logistic regression analysis revealed a negative association (OR: 0.248; p = 0.018) between having a walking habit at baseline and successful weight loss, defined as a 3% reduction in initial weight. Additionally, slower walking speeds and family medical history were identified as potential predictors of successful weight loss. These findings offer insights into the profile of individuals who achieve success in weight loss through our smartphone app, providing valuable guidance for the development of future healthcare apps.

Weight loss improves health but little is known regarding how those who achieve feel about it. Aiming to identify positive and negative consequences of a successful weight loss, 30 men and women who achieved a successful weight loss were interviewed. Interviews were analysed (content and thematic analysis). Inter-rater agreement was assessed. With multiple correspondence analysis, a three-factor model explained the associations between categories: (1) personal growth/social adversities, (2) body image/social benefits and (3) physical/emotional well-being. Successful weight loss has positive and negative consequences that need to be addressed; positive aspects (e.g. personal growth) and negative consequences (e.g. relational problems) need to be tackled.

BACKGROUND: Short-term weight loss is often successful, but the obtained results are difficult to maintain. Therefore, a study focusing on obese people who successfully lost weight, with special emphasis upon methods applied and background factors, is of major importance.
METHODS: This study was based upon a web-based questionnaire, which the participants filled in after registration. Altogether 316 people were recruited through articles in newspapers all over Finland, and of them 184 met the inclusion criteria: age 18-60 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2) before weight loss, a weight loss of at least 10%, and maintaining it for a minimum of 2 years.
RESULTS: A total of 158 participants (100 women and 58 men) were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 44.5 years, average BMI before weight loss 35.9 kg/m(2) and after weight loss 26.1 kg/m(2), average weight loss was 26.5% or 32.4 kg. Compared with the general Finnish population the participants smoked less (P = 0.009), used less alcohol (P ≤ 0.001), and were physically more active (P ≤ 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: People who were successful in long-term weight loss have a much healthier lifestyle than the general Finnish population. Increased physical activity seems to be a major determinant of successful long-term results.

BACKGROUND: A registry was created for patients having procedures for weight loss from 2004 to the present time at a large integrated healthcare system. The objective of this study was to compare findings to the literature and national quality monitoring databases and present 3-year weight loss outcomes.
METHODS: Patients are passively enrolled in the registry with the following characteristics: a bariatric procedure for weight loss after January 1, 2004 and actively enrolled in the health plan at the time of surgery.
RESULTS: Compared to national surgical quality databases, the registry (n = 20,296) has a similar proportion of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB; 58%), more vertical sleeve gastrectomy (SG; 40%), fewer banding (2%) procedures, more Hispanic patients (35%), and higher rates of 1 year follow-up (78%). RYGB patients lost more weight at every time point up to 3 years after surgery compared with SG patients (P<.001). Non-Hispanic white RYGB patients had a higher percent excess weight loss than non-Hispanic black (P<.001) and Hispanic (P<.001) RYGB patients. There were no differences between SG racial/ethnic groups in percent excess weight loss throughout the 3-year follow-up period.
CONCLUSIONS: We are one of the first groups to publish comparison weight outcomes for RYGB and SG in a diverse patient population, showing that the responses to RYGB and not SG vary by race/ethnicity.