Objective Evaluate the association between pre-treatment and during-treatment weight change. Evaluate differences in self-regulation between those who gain weight, remain weight stable, and lose weight pre-treatment. Methods Data from the first six months of a behavioral weight loss study were used. Participants (n=283) were weighed at two assessment points (screening visit and baseline) prior to the start of treatment and at every treatment session. Participants were divided into those who gained weight, remained weight stable, or lost weight between screening visit and the first treatment session. Results Pre-treatment weight change was not significantly associated with during-treatment change. Weight change from screening visit to month six was significantly different by category, with losses of 11% and 7% for those who lost and gained weight pre-treatment respectively. Weight change from first treatment session to month six was not different by category. Poorer self-regulation was associated with pre-treatment weight gain and better self-regulation with pre-treatment weight loss. Conclusions Pre-treatment weight change may not relate to success during behavioral weight loss treatment. Researchers should carefully consider when the “baseline” assessment takes place to reduce bias introduced by weight change during pre-treatment. Poorer self-regulation may place individuals at risk for weight gain prior to treatment.

Body dissatisfaction, the negative subjective evaluation of one's body, is associated with many negative psychological and physical health consequences. One conceptualization of body dissatisfaction includes an experience of discrepancy between perceived actual and ideal body shapes. This paper reviews the literature on three facets of body dissatisfaction from the framework of self-discrepancy theory: perceptions of current weight, ideal body weight, and the relative importance of conforming to ideals. We review components of body dissatisfaction among healthy individuals and eating-disordered individuals. We also address the conceptualization's relationship among body dissatisfaction, weight history, and dieting to expand the impact of body dissatisfaction research and to provide more information on the nature and treatment of eating disorders.

Changing Lives and Changing Outcomes (CLCO) was developed to address the unique treatment needs of individuals with co-occurring mental illness and criminogenic risk. Previous evaluations of CLCO demonstrated effectiveness for male participants, but did not examine treatment effectiveness across participant sex. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine differences in treatment outcomes among male and female probationers receiving CLCO. Participants were assessed pre- and posttreatment. Results indicated positive treatment effects across both psychiatric and criminogenic domains, including psychiatric symptomology and global mental health functioning, medication adherence, attitudes toward mental illness recovery, and antisocial cognitions. Female participants demonstrated enhanced treatment responsiveness relative to males across several domains. This study underscores the effectiveness of the program in addressing both mental health and criminogenic needs in correctional populations, while highlighting the differential impact of the program across participant sex. Implications, future directions, and limitations of the present study are discussed.

SummaryObjectivesThe objectives of the study are to characterize the frequency and size of small weight gains during behavioural weight loss treatment and to evaluate the relationship between small weight gains and weight loss outcomes.MethodsParticipants (n = 281) in a year‐long behavioural weight loss programme were weighed at treatment sessions, and between‐session weight gains were classified into several categories based on size. The occurrence of different gain magnitudes and their relation to weight loss were examined during both the active weight loss (months 1–6) and weight loss maintenance (months 7–12) phases of treatment.ResultsWeight gains were common during both phases of treatment, with smaller gains occurring more frequently than larger gains. Greater frequency of all gain magnitudes was associated with lesser weight loss during both phases. Additionally, participants who had just one or two weight gains of the smallest size examined (1.0–1.9 lb) lost less weight than those who had no gains.ConclusionsSmall gains appear to reflect true weight gain due to poor adherence to behavioural recommendations and are associated with worse weight loss outcomes, even when limited in number. Future research should examine how best to prevent small weight gains from occurring and how clinicians and participants should respond when a weight gain does occur to promote weight control success.

Summary Behavioural weight control programmes recommend adherence to daily energy intake goals, yet also allow for flexibility in intake across days. Evidence is lacking as to whether intake consistency is important for weight control. The current study explored the relation between day-to-day intake consistency and weight loss in the context of behavioural weight loss treatment and examined the relationship between variability in intake and several factors known to be associated with weight control success. Participants (N = 283) enrolled in a 12-month behavioural weight loss programme completed 24-h recalls of dietary intake and psychological measures. At the end of treatment, low intake variability and greater weight loss were associated, but variability was not predictive of weight loss independent of mean intake in continuous analyses. Interestingly, participants who met the programme goal of ≥10% weight loss had less intake variability compared to those who lost <10%, although groups did not differ significantly on mean intake. Results suggest that daily intake consistency may facilitate successful weight loss for some. Additionally, autonomous motivation for weight management and cognitive dietary restraint were inversely related to end-of-treatment intake variability. Additional research is needed to examine whether recommendations to limit intake variability during behavioural weight loss treatment improve long-term weight control.

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