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THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Similar patterns that led to consistent changes in behavior were identified in 18 women who successfully lost weight, a new study finds.

The weight loss ranged from 15 to 144 pounds for at least a year, according to the Yale University study in a recent issue of Nursing Science Quarterly.

The 18 women lost 10 percent of their body weight and kept that weight off for at least a year. The study identified six similar patterns among the women. They included:

• Before losing weight, the women were self-conscious, vulnerable and unaware of events that contributed to their weight gain.
• The women recognized their problem, displayed a readiness to take action, and decided to make changes.
• The women took control and actively engaged in behavior change.
• The women incorporated new behaviors, used some type of support system to reinforce their behavior changes, and displayed increased confidence, self-esteem and control of their lives.

"Participants moved fluidly through one pattern to the next and many times fell back to a previous pattern before moving on. Once participants moved to the sixth pattern, they were able to maintain weight loss," study author Diane Berry, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale School of Nursing, said in a prepared statement.

All 18 women had memberships in a weight-loss support program and incorporated exercise into their lifestyles.

"The women who maintained their weight loss were more aware of their trigger foods and portion sizes, and they all exercised regularly. They also recognized it is something they will have to work at for the rest of their lives," Berry said.

More information

The Harvard School of Public Health has more about healthy weight.

(SOURCE: Yale University, news release, July 29, 2004)

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