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I don't have them handy anymore, I think the last time it was discussed was in one of Thor's threads about the show he was on. If I recall the one I'm thinking of followed 1000+ people long term that went through highly supported weight loss programs and long term (5 years I think it was) it was less than 5% that kept the weight off.

As far as sabotage, it's not that your body needs less calories when you lose weight, it's that your body can keep needing less calories after you regain the weight. Not as few as when the weigh was off, but not as many as before the diet. Carry that over a few major ups and downs, people can get to a point where maintaining a "normal" weight requires an absurdly low calorie count just to maintain.

The body wants to get back to the weight it was is how it is described to me by the program I'm in right now, so will set desires, hunger, etc to get there.

That's why many medical weight loss clinics don't focus on BMI or being skinny or what a typical weight is for age/height/body type, because they're not attainable for the vast majority of people. Instead they focus on cardiovascular health and goals oriented towards reducing risk or improving quality of life i.e. being able to walk a long distance and having a strong heart, losing and keeping 50lbs off instead of expecting 100lbs so that they can participate in some sports or play with their kids, getting high blood pressure / cholesterol / blood sugar under control, etc. Also trying to help with the mental side of not just why food is such a problem, but accepting achievable goals and being happy with yourself despite everyone around you looking down on you and telling you how awful you are.

EDIT: The Calgary Bariatric clinic recently stopped taking referrals and will stop offering services for people just doing the lifestyle changes. They say the research shows that success with surgery is significant where success without isn't.