The correlates of long-term weight loss: a group comparison study of obesity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although the majority of weight loss attempts are unsuccessful, a small minority succeed in both weight loss and maintenance. The present study aimed to explore the correlates of this success. METHOD: A group comparison design was used to examine differences between women who were classi®ed as either weight loss maintainers (had been obese (body mass index, BMI 30 kgam 2 ) and had lost weight to be considered non-obese (BMI`30 kgam 2 ) and maintained this weight loss for a minimum of 3 y; n 44), stable obese (maintained an obese weight (BMI 30 kgam 2 ) for longer than 3 y; n 58), and weight loss regainers (been obese (BMI 30 kgam 2 ), lost suf®cient weight to be considered non-obese (BMI`30 kgam 2 ) and regained it (BMI 30 kgam 2 ), n 40). In particular, the study examined differences in pro®le characteristics, historical factors, help-seeking behaviours and psychological factors. RESULTS: The results showed that in terms of pro®le and historical factors, the weight loss maintainers had been lighter, were currently older and had dieted for longer than the other groups but were matched in terms of age, class and ethnic group. In terms of help-seeking behaviours, the weight loss maintainers reported having tried healthy eating more frequently but were comparable to the other subjects in terms of professionals contacted. Finally, for psychological factors the weight loss maintainers reported less endorsement for medical causes of obesity, greater endorsement for psychological consequences and indicated that they had been motivated to lose weight for psychological reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss and maintenance is particularly correlated with a psychological model of obesity. This has implications for improving the effectiveness of interventions and the potential impact of current interest in medical approaches to obesity.

Adherence, behavior change, and visualization: A qualitative study of the experiences of taking an obesity medication

“…Previous research has explored patients' beliefs about the causes of obesity and suggests that whilst many patients prefer a more medical model (35) successful weight loss and maintenance is associated with a more psychological perspective (36). This was supported by the present study as all those who had not lost weight or regained any weight they had lost on orlistat focused on causes which were beyond their control involving genetics or illness (n=5).…”

Understanding sustained behavior change: the role of life crises and the process of reinvention

“…The results from the present study support such studies but suggest that an emphasis on behavior as central to both the cause and solution of a problem is also associated with behavior change that is sustained over time. This also refl ects previous research, which reported that a more psychological model of obesity was associated with weight loss maintenance (Ogden, 2000) but illustrates that such a model may also be relevant to health related behaviors in general.…”

“…This focus on success stories has been previously used to explore weight loss maintenance (e.g. Ogden, 2000;Elfhag and Rossner, 2005;Wing and Phelan, 2005) and enables the process of longer term change to be elicited from the person themself. The present study aimed to explore whether factors exist which relate to longer term changes in health behaviors in general and to explore the cognitions behind behavior change.…”

How consistent are beliefs about the causes and solutions to illness?: An experimental study

“…For example, research exploring adherence to asthma medication concluded that patients are more likely to take their medication if their beliefs about the cause of their problem are consistent with their beliefs about its treatment (Horne, 1997;Horne and Weinman, 1999;2002). Similarly, from a study of successful weight loss and maintenance, Ogden (2000) concluded that the 'success stories' were more likely to believe that behaviour was central to both the cause and 4 solution of their weight problem. Furthermore, consistent beliefs about causes and solutions have also been reported to relate to the effectiveness of weight loss medication (Ogden and Sidhu, 2006), uptake of rehabilitation following heart attack (Petrie et al, 1996) and sustained changes in diet, smoking and exercise behaviours (Ogden and Hills, in press).…”