Longer Length of First Stay in Intermittent Residential Programmes Is Associated with Larger Weight Loss at 1 and 2 Years

OBJECTIVE To determine if length of first stay impacts on weight loss and cardiovascular fitness, at 1 and 2 years in severely obese patients enrolled in intermittent residential programs. METHODS In a retrospective follow-up study, we assessed weight loss and changes in cardiovascular fitness (VO₂ peak) at 1 and 2 years in 179 severely obese adults who participated in two intermittent residential programmes. Both programmes consisted of five stays at the Røros Rehabilitation Centre over a 2-year period, but programme A consisted of a much longer first stay compared with programme B (8 vs. 2 weeks). RESULTS Of 179 participants (BMI 44 ± 6 kg/m²), 162 completed 1-year and 117 2-year evaluation. Programme A led to significantly larger weight reduction (-20.7 ± 10.8 vs. -13.5 ± 8.1 kg and -16.0 ± 12.7 vs. -7.9 ± 11.2 kg, p < 0.0001) and improvement in VO₂ peak (7.8 vs. 3.6 ml/kg/min (p < 0.0001) and 5.6 vs. 2.5 ml/kg/min (p < 0.01)) at both 1 and 2 years, compared with programme B. Intention-to-treat analysis showed similar results. CONCLUSION A residential intermittent programme with a longer initial stay is associated with better weight loss and improvement in cardiovascular fitness at both 1 and 2 years. A longer follow-up is needed to clearly establish the sustainability of these programmes.