The false hope syndrome: unrealistic expectations of self-change

Polivy, Janet

doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801705

Cited by 73 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…It has been frequently argued that false hope and the desire to lose more weight than what realistically can be expected may Predictors of success in weight loss PJ Teixeira et al increase the likelihood of early disappointment and relapse upon smaller than wanted changes. 49,50 The present and our previous report 11 are the first studies to have shown empirical data to support this claim. Others recently reported that weight goals and dream weights were not associated with weight loss, in a completers-only follow-up analysis of a 8-week treatment program (47% attrition at 18 months).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Pretreatment predictors of attrition and successful weight management in women

et al. 2004

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OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed baseline behavioral and psychosocial differences between successful and nonsuccessful participants in a behavioral weight management program. Success was defined by commonly used health-related criteria (5% weight loss). Noncompletion was also used as a marker of a failed attempt at weight control. SUBJECTS: A total of 158 healthy overweight and obese women (age, 48.074.5 y; BMI, 31.073.8 kg/m 2 ; body fat, 44.575.3%). INTERVENTION: Subjects participated in a 16-week lifestyle weight loss program consisting of group-based behavior therapy to improve diet and increase physical activity, and were followed for 1 y after treatment. METHODS: At baseline, all women completed a comprehensive behavioral and psychosocial battery assessing dieting/weight history, dietary intake and eating behaviors, exercise, self-efficacy, outcome evaluations, body image, and other variables considered relevant for weight management. Participants who maintained a weight loss of 5% or more at 16 months (or 10% or more of initial fat mass) were classified as successful. Nonsuccessful participants were those who dropped out and completers who had not lost weight at follow-up. RESULTS: Of all participants, 30% (n ¼ 47) did not complete initial treatment and/or missed follow-up assessments (noncompleters). Noncompletion was independently associated with more previous weight loss attempts, poorer quality of life, more stringent weight outcome evaluations, and lower reported carbohydrate intake at baseline. In logistic regression, completion status was predicted correctly in 84% of all cases (w 2 ¼ 45.5, Po0.001), using baseline information only. Additional predictors of attrition were initial weight, exercise minutes, fiber intake, binge eating, psychological health, and body image. A large variation in weight loss/maintenance results was observed (range: 37.2 kg for 16-month weight change). Independent baseline predictors of success at 16 months were more moderate weight outcome evaluations, lower level of previous dieting, higher exercise self-efficacy, and smaller waist-to-hip ratio. Success status at follow-up was predicted correctly in 74% of all starting cases (w 2 ¼ 33.6, Po0.001). CONCLUSION: Psychosocial and behavioral variables (eg, dieting history, dietary intake, outcome evaluations, exercise selfefficacy, and quality of life) may be useful as pretreatment predictors of success level and/or attrition in previously overweight and mildly obese women who volunteer for behavioral weight control programs. These factors can be used in developing readiness profiles for weight management, a potentially important tool to address the issue of low success/completion rates in the current management of obesity.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Pretreatment predictors of attrition and successful weight management in women

et al. 2004

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“…This procedure has been validated in other areas such as the induction of anger, 26,27 anxiety, 27,28 disgust, 28 and happiness. 27 Compared with the other induction procedures, guided imagery vignettes have the advantages of ensuring participants are exposed to the same stimuli (e.g., compared with reliance on autobiographical memory in which recollected incidents of body dissatisfaction may vary widely in their intensity across participants), 29 providing participants with an interpretative framework rather than allowing participants to interpret the material for themselves (e.g., as occurs in exposure to media images of thin women where participants may engage in body esteem-enhancing cognitive processes such as the ''false-hope syndrome''), 30 and ease of administration (e.g., compared with procedures involving confederates). 31 Three vignettes designed to induce body dissatisfaction, negative mood, and a neutral mood state, respectively were developed for the present study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of the effect of body dissatisfaction on selective attention toward negative shape and weight‐related information

Smith

Rieger

2009

Intl J Eating Disorders

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The finding that the negative mood (rather than the body dissatisfaction) induction triggered an attentional bias toward shape- and weight-related information is discussed in terms of the anxiety literature given the nature of the mood induction utilized. This finding might help to account for the high comorbidity between eating disorders and anxiety disorders and suggests the possible relevance of attentional training interventions designed for anxiety disorders in the treatment of eating disorders.

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“…Despite clear evidence that modern lifestyles, increasing professional demands, the focus on technology and the influence of the media facilitate sedentary behavior and unhealthy dietary practices, it is possible that noncompliance with lifestyle modifications occurs partly because the effectiveness of this strategy does not match up to the individual's expectations 15 . Social pressure often demands improbable weight loss, thereby creating a highly favorable environment for unproven practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%