Introduction and Objective: Early weight loss in structured obesity-care programs predicts long-term outcomes, but durability varies widely. This study evaluated whether a high proportion of patients maintained at least 70% of their initial 3-month weight loss at approximately 12 months and at least 50% at 24 months, with potential differences by sex and diabetes status. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated in a structured weight-management clinic. Baseline and 3-month weights defined initial loss; follow-up weights were recorded at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome was maintenance of ≥70% of initial loss at 12 months and ≥50% at 24 months. Proportions were calculated with Wilson 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup comparisons used Fisher’s exact test, and multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of maintenance, including early percent loss, sex, and diabetes status. Results: Among 745 participants with baseline data, 427 achieved valid early loss. At 12 months, 202 of 235 patients (86.0%) maintained ≥70% of initial loss. At 24 months, 94 of 130 patients (72.3%) maintained ≥50%. Among 110 patients with complete follow-up, 79 (71.8%) met both criteria. Maintainers achieved a mean 24-month reduction of 11.3 kg versus 1.1 kg among non-maintainers. Greater early loss was the strongest independent predictor of long-term maintenance (adjusted odds ratio 1.18 per 1% increase; 95% CI, 1.03-1.35). Conclusion: Approximately seven in ten early responders maintained substantial weight loss for two years. Early engagement and magnitude of initial reduction were the primary determinants of durability, supporting pragmatic maintenance benchmarks for program evaluation and timely treatment intensification in real-world obesity care. Disclosure N. Deshpande: None. R. Kalpekar: None. A. Modi: None. M. Halappannavar: None.
Deshpande et al. (Fri,) studied this question.