Weight-loss programs that feature dietary counseling help dieters shed six percent of body weight more each year, according to a new study. For most people, that translates into a loss of 10 to 15 pounds, researchers say.

The team at the Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, analyzed 46 studies focused on weight loss, according to a HealthDay News report. They compared data from almost 6,400 people whose programs included dietary counseling and almost 5,500 people who were not in these types of programs.

Programs with frequent meetings and calorie restrictions resulted in more successful weight loss over time, according to the study, which is published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com