All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association. CMAJ Commentary

Although lifestyle-based programs for treatment ofobesity are generally associated with weight loss ofabout 10%,1 avoiding weight regain is a major chal-lenge.2 Most patients regain about 30 % of the weight lost in the year following treatment and typically return to their base-line weight in 3–5 years.2 In this issue, Dale and colleagues3 report the results of a 2-year randomized controlled trial that tested 2 questions: does the intensity of support provided by health professionals affect the maintenance of weight loss, and are differences in the consumption of macronutrients re-lated to the maintenance of previous weight loss. Dale and colleagues recruited 200 overweight and obese women who had lost 5 % or more of their initial body weight in the 6 months before enrollment. Participants were ran-domly assigned to receive intensive support or nurse support and were prescribed a diet high in carbohydrate or monoun-saturated fat. Women in both programs maintained a mea