For Doug Howard, the decision to lose weight came shortly after the scale revealed he weighed 280 pounds.
I had gone to the doctors and found out that I was diabetic.
Doug's doctor recommended he enroll in a weight loss trial at Johns Hopkins. All participants were given information about healthy eating and exercise. Two thirds of the participants were also given access to a website, where they could track their weight. And some were offered telephone counseling sessions while others had both phone and group counseling.
Most people know what to do to. The key is sustaining behavior. So a lot of the counseling was focused on the behaviors that are necessary to sustain weight loss.
Both the phone and group counseling participants lost at least 5% of their body weight and kept it off for two years. But the doctors were most excited to learn phone counseling helped just as much as group. Because of its convenience, it has the potential to reach more people.
It's difficult to go to a facility on a regular basis week after week whereas it's much easier to schedule an appointment, do it over the phone and then schedule again for the following week.
Doug participated in both phone and group counseling sessions and weighed himself everyday to track his progress online. His says all the support motivated him to exercise six days a week, and stick to an 1,800 calorie diet.
I started out as diabetic, and now I am off all medications and I no longer have to monitor my blood sugar.
He's also down 100 pounds, living proof you can lose weight and keep it off. You just may need a little help from your friends.
Erika Edwards, NBC news.
