Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Long-term results of dietary and behavioral treatment of obesity fail to match the obese patients' expectations, as well as the professionals' requirements. The therapeutic challenge remains to induce behavioral changes during treatment which are maintained over a long period of time, thus enabling long-term weight maintenance. The paper develops a framework to improve lasting behavioral changes.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Four elements may enhance long-term success. First, patients' unrealistic expectations about the weight loss have to be modified and patients have to be supported in accepting moderate and modest weight losses as success. Second, behavioral change can only be achieved if treatment involves a long-lasting training process, which for most patients needs to continue more than a year. Third, behavioral and attitudinal change should be governed by the principle of flexible control of eating behavior, and rigid control should be discouraged. Forth, long-term success appears to be more likely, the more behavioral dimensions are involved in the process of behavioral change.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Westenhoefer, J. The therapeutic challenge: behavioral changes for long-term weight maintenance. Int J Obes 25 (Suppl 1), S85–S88 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801706
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801706
- Springer Nature Limited
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Do overweight workers profit by workplace health promotion, more than their normal-weight peers? Evaluation of a worksite intervention
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology (2015)
-
Biopsychosozialer Ansatz der Adipositas im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Psychotherapeut (2015)
-
Effectiveness of a worksite mindfulness-based multi-component intervention on lifestyle behaviors
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2014)
-
Evidenzbasierte Leitlinie der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Adipositas im Kindes- und Jugendalter zur Therapie der Adipositas im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz (2011)
-
Teaching Acceptance and Mindfulness to Improve the Lives of the Obese: A Preliminary Test of a Theoretical Model
Annals of Behavioral Medicine (2009)