The effect of eating behavior on weight loss and maintenance during a lifestyle intervention.

Objective: To investigate the effects of intensive counseling on eating behavior and weight loss and maintenance and their associations.

Methods: A randomized weight loss counseling intervention with follow-up of 18 months, conducted between 2002-2004 at Oulu University Hospital, Finland included obese adults (n=82, body mass index >27 kg/m(2)). Subjects were randomized into 1) intensive counseling and 2) short-term counseling.