Background
: In general, long-term weight loss maintenance is difficult. Thus we have attempted to examine the factors associated with weight loss maintenance after weight reduction to appropriate level in obese people.

Methods : The study subjects were 170 obese adults who visited the Yeung Nam University Medical Center Obesity Clinic from January 2002 to April 2004. Selected individuals for this study were those who have intentionally lost at least 5% of their body weight and have kept it off for at least 1 year and considered to be ; weight loss maintainers ; and the factors that are associated with weight loss maintenance were obsened and assessed by telephone survey.

Results : Among all study subjects, the successful weight loss maintainers were 61 (35.9%) subjects (males: 23, females: 38) and re-gainers were 109 (64.1%) subjects (males: 42, females: 67). The difference between maintainers and re-gainers according to sex, age and basal body weight was not statistically significant. The difference between maintainers and retainers were statistically significant in those with regular exercise more than 3 times per week (P=0.001), no alcohol intake (P= 0.001), physical activity more than moderate level (P＜0.001), TV viewing (internet using) times less than 2 hours (P＜0.001), dietary control (P＜0.001), and no overeating (P＜0.001). According to multiple regression analysis, obesity treatment medication use during the weight loss maintenance period had the greatest influence (R²=0.336, P=0.000), and the following were TV (internet) viewing time, smoking, exercise, and physical activity in order.

Conclusion : By using, medications, reducing TV viewing (internet using) times, smoking cessation, diet control exercise weight loss were maintained significantly.