Take Off Pounds Sensibly

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• BarbaraSue

  Weight-Loss Study Determines that TOPS Is Effective

  Real People. Real Weight Loss.®

  MILWAUKEE, WI – Recent findings from what is

  believed to be the largest study of a weight-loss

  program in the United States indicates that TOPS

  Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit

  weight-loss support organization, is associated with

  clinically significant weight loss among participants

  who remain in the program for at least one year.

  According to a study published in Obesity, the official

  journal of The Obesity Society, TOPS participants

  who renewed their annual membership consecutively

  over a period of one to three years lost between

  5.9% and 7.1% of their initial weight. People who

  remained in the program lost 6% of initial weight in

  the first year and maintained that weight loss for up

  to three years.

  The Institute of Medicine defines successful

  long-term weight loss as “losing at least 5% of

  body weight...by the completion of a weight-loss

  program... and keeping it [off]...for at least one year.”

  The average weight loss estimated in this study

  exceeds these criteria for successful long-term

  weight loss which have been associated with

  improved health benefits, including decreased

  likelihood of developing heart disease, lower blood

  pressure and cholesterol levels, and the reduction

  of sleep apnea symptoms.

  Study authors Nia S. Mitchell, L. Miriam Dickinson,

  Allison Kempe, and Adam G. Tsai, all of the

  University of Colorado Denver, examined data from

  nearly 43,000 TOPS members who joined between

  January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, and who

  had at least one membership renewal between 2006

  and 2008. Members were weighed at weekly meetings

  by the chapter weight recorder and subsequently

  submitted to TOPS’ national headquarters by local

  Field Staff.

  In addition to regular group meetings designed to

  reinforce healthy habits, such as setting reasonable

  goals, increasing physical activity, portion control,

  and food journaling — major components of TOPS’

  weight-loss philosophy, the TOPS program includes

  a six-week “quick-start” guide, My Day One, and a

  one-year subscription to TOPS News, the organization’s

  members-only magazine.

  The researchers noted the substantial difference in

  cost between TOPS and commercial weight-loss

  programs, like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.

  A nonprofit organization, TOPS’ annual membership

  fee is $28 in the United States and $32 in Canada,

  plus nominal chapter fees (on average, $5 per

  month) collected for local chapter expenses. There

  are no special foods to purchase.

  TOPS chapters are also led by volunteer leaders

  who are elected by their peers. The study authors

  speculate that the lower dropout rate in TOPS could

  be due to the camaraderie, support, and recognition

  that develop from regular chapter meetings because

  participants may hold offices in the chapter.

  “We are pleased that the findings of this landmark

  study further confirm that members of TOPS can

  experience measurable and lasting weight-loss

  success,” said Barbara Cady, TOPS President.

  TOPS has been shown to be as successful as

  commercial groups and plans that have been scientifically

  studied and evaluated in recent years. These

  include the 2005 JAMA study of Ornish, the Zone,

  Weight Watchers and Atkins. TOPS is affordable

  and available throughout the US and Canada.

  Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS

  meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter,

  www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

  Saturday, August 9, 2014 Report this