What Actually Keeps Weight Off After a Weight Loss Program

Baltimore, MD, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weight regain after initial weight loss is a recognized pattern among individuals pursuing lasting metabolic change. Trilivy™, a science-backed, coach-guided metabolic health system, points to lean mass preservation and continued support as the two factors that keep metabolic health and its results in place. 

"Body composition is the more meaningful measure of metabolic progress, specifically what happens to visceral fat and lean mass during the weight loss phase. Tracking both together shows whether baseline energy use has actually improved and can be used to support metabolic health after the program ends," said Satya Jonnalagadda, PhD, MBA, RD, Vice President, Scientific & Clinical Affairs at Trilivy, who leads the company's scientific and clinical research strategy.

Lean Mass Keeps the Metabolism Working

Rapid weight loss can draw from lean mass, including muscle, a metabolically active tissue that plays a direct role in how efficiently the body burns energy. Losing it can slow the metabolism and make results harder to sustain. This places body composition at the center of long-term success. 

Visceral Fat Reduction Is An Important Body Composition Marker for Lasting Weight Management

Visceral fat, the tissue surrounding the organs that releases inflammatory molecules and hormones affecting insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk, is also the fat most likely to return first once a structured program ends. 

A Behavior Framework Built for the Years After the First 12 Weeks

Lasting metabolic change depends on habit formation that extends beyond the active phase of any program. A behavioral framework built around repeatable micro-habits gives individuals a way to sustain progress once daily structure and accountability are no longer built into a formal plan.

Human Coaching Is the Behavioral Layer That Holds Results in Place

Human support provides accountability and real-time course correction through the weight loss phase and beyond, addressing the adherence patterns that often determine whether early progress becomes a lasting outcome.

How Trilivy's Reset, Refine, and Renew System Can Help Support Long-Term Metabolic Health

Trilivy pairs structured nutrition from its Trilivy Fuelings and Lean & Green™ meals with a network of independent Trilivy coaches and the Habits of Health® Transformational System. Trilivy's three-phase system includes Reset, which works to reset the body's metabolism and reverse metabolic dysfunction; Refine, which focuses on optimizing metabolic flexibility and body composition; and Renew, which supports long-term metabolic health, vitality and healthspan, designed to carry past the initial phase of a program and into the years that follow. About 90% of Trilivy's independent coaches started as clients, bringing direct personal experience to the support relationship.

Key Facts:

• 98% of lean mass was retained by individuals on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan at 16 weeks, and 97% on the Reset 4 & 2 Active Plan*
• 14% reduction in visceral fat at 16 weeks on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan*
• More than 90% of U.S. adults are metabolically unhealthy¹
• Participants on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan working with a coach lost up to 10 times more weight and 17 times more fat than those on a self-directed approach*

FAQs

Question: Will I gain the weight back after a structured program?
Answer: Metabolic outcomes that last depend on what happens to your metabolism during a program. Preserving lean mass keeps the metabolism active, and building habits keeps it supported. Individual results vary.

Question: Does losing muscle slow your metabolism?
Answer: It can. Muscle is metabolically active tissue, so losing it during weight loss can slow the metabolism and make it harder to maintain results.

Question: How do I keep my results for the long term?
Answer: Lasting results come from ongoing metabolic health, not a short-term push toward a goal. Structured habit formation paired with coach accountability helps translate a program's early progress into changes that hold up beyond the initial phase. 

Question: Does coaching actually help your results last?
Answer: Yes. Coaching focuses on accountability and the habits that protect metabolic health over time.

* Trilivy™ recommends that you contact your healthcare provider before starting and throughout your weight loss journey.

* Arterburn LM, et al. Randomized controlled trial assessing two commercial weight loss programs in adults with overweight or obesity. Obesity Science & Practice. 2019. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/osp4.312. In a clinical study, individuals on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan experienced a reduction of 14% visceral fat and 98% of lean mass was retained at 16 weeks. Those on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan with the support of a coach lost up to 10x more weight and 17x more fat than those who tried to lose weight on their own.

¹ O’Hearn M, et al. Trends and Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2018. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2022;80(2):138-151. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2022.04.046.

About Medifast and Trilivy

Medifast (NYSE: MED) is the health and wellness company known for its science-backed comprehensive metabolic health system, Trilivy. Designed to address the challenges of metabolic dysfunction, the company’s holistic approach integrates science-backed plans and products, personal 1:1 coaching, a supportive community, and behavioral science support to develop healthy habits.
Driven to improve metabolic health through advanced science and comprehensive behavioral support, Medifast has introduced Metabolic Synchronization®, a breakthrough science that targets metabolic dysfunction through a comprehensive system focused on fat loss, lean mass preservation, and long-term health. Trilivy's comprehensive three-phase metabolic health system is designed to help people reset their metabolism, refine their health, and renew their lives. By integrating science, coaching, and healthy habits into a single approach, Trilivy helps people look, feel, and live better.
Backed by more than 45 years of clinical heritage, Medifast continues to advance its mission of lifelong transformation through metabolic science and human connection™. For more information, visit trilivyhealth.com and medifastinc.com.