Relationship among self-esteem, internal-external locus of control, and weight change after participation in a weight reduction program

Abstract

This report covers 15 to 47 months of follow-up study of 66 obese women who participated in a 10-week weight reduction program. Subjects were divided into three self-esteem groups and into two groups of "internal" and "external" subjects. The average weight regain during the follow-up period was 3.1 kg, although all subjects remained below their pretreatment weight. The higher the self-esteem score, the lower the average weight regain during follow-up (1.7 kg, 2.6 kg, and 3.5 kg, respectively). For internals the average weight regain was 1.8 kg and for externals 3.4 kg. Implications are discussed, and suggestions for improved weight reduction programs are presented.

Controlling Your Weight Versus Controlling Your Lifestyle: How Beliefs about Weight Control Affect Risk for Disordered Eating, 10534_2006_9060_Fig3_HTML.gif Dissatisfaction and Self-esteem

“…Research examining the role of weight control beliefs was part of a broader line of research looking at personality variables that might impact success in weight loss programs (Balch & Ross, 1975;Nir & Neumann, 1995). It was hypothesized that individuals with an internal locus of control ('internals') would be more likely to succeed in weight loss attempts than individuals with an external locus of control ('externals').…”

“…The results of this line of research were mixed, with internals tending to stay in and persist longer with treatment. However, there were no differences between internals and externals in extent of weight loss, particularly in the long term (Balch & Ross, 1975;Nir & Neumann, 1995).…”

Weight loss maintenance in relation to locus of control: The MedWeight study

“…Nir and Neuman found higher average weight regain in externals compared to internals in a 15e47 month period following a 10-week weight loss program (Nir & Neumann, 1995). On the other hand, no association was detected between internal and external locus of control and weight loss maintenance at the 14th month of follow up, after completion of a six-month weight loss program (Williams, Grow, Freedman, Ryan, & Deci, 1996).…”

All roads bring to Rome: a different way for predicting success in the therapy of obesity through psychological features

“…In addition, several other psychological areas different from psychopathology moderate responses to treatments for weight loss; those include motivation [14], readiness to change [15,16], locus of control [17][18][19][20] and empowerment [21]. It can also be speculated that the impact of obesity on health-related quality of life modulates motivation, and therefore treatment response.…”