Weight loss and retention in a commercial weight loss program and the effect of corporate partnership

BACKGROUND: No studies report if improvements to commercial weight loss programs affect retention and weight loss. Similarly, no studies report if enrolling in a program through work (with a corporate partner) affects retention and weight loss. OBJECTIVES: To determine if: 1) adding evidenced-based improvements to a commercial weight loss program increased retention and weight loss, 2) enrolling in a program through work increased retention and weight loss, and 3) if increased weight loss was due to longer retention. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected on 60,164 adults who enrolled in Jenny Craig’s Platinum Program over one year in 2001–2002. The program was subsequently renamed the Rewards Program and improved by increasing treatment personalization and including motivational interviewing. Data were then collected on 81,505 Rewards participants who enrolled during 2005 (2,418 of these participants enrolled through their employer, but paid out-of-pocket). MEASUREMENTS: Retention (participants were considered active until ≥42 consecutive days were missed) and weight loss (percent of original body weight) from baseline to the last visit (data were evaluated through week 52). RESULTS: Alpha was set at .001. Mean (95% CI) retention (weeks), was significantly higher among Rewards [19.5 (19.4–19.6)] compared to Platinum [16.3 (16.2–16.4)] participants, and Rewards Corporate [25.9 (25.0–26.8)] compared to Non-corporate [21.9 (21.7–22.1)] participants. Modified intent-to-treat analyses indicated that mean (95% CI) percent weight loss was significantly larger among Rewards [6.36 (6.32–6.40)] compared to Platinum [5.45 (5.41–5.49)] participants, and Rewards Corporate [7.16 (6.92–7.40)] compared to Non-corporate [6.20 (6.16–6.24)] participants, with and without adjustment for baseline participant characteristics. In all cases, greater weight loss was secondary to longer retention. LIMITATIONS: The study was not a randomized controlled trial, rather, a translational effectiveness study. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements to a commercial program and enrolling through a corporate partner are associated with greater weight loss that is due to improved retention.