Skip to main content
Log in

Behavioral treatment of obesity in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome

  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Self-monitoring combined with contingency contracting resulted in weight loss, modification of dysfunctional eating habits, and increased or sustained exercise rates for two obese, mentally retarded adolescent females with Prader-Willi syndrome. Contingency contracting between clients and their parents/caregivers was used to specify consequences for daily self-monitoring, reduced caloric intake, weight loss, and exercise. Punishment for food stealing was also employed. Results suggest that contingency contracting is an effective technique for producing long-term weight loss in obese mentally retarded adolescents. Further, these techniques offer an alternative to the clinician considering solely dietary restriction or surgical intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Azrin, N. H., and Wesolowski, M. D. (1974). Theft reversal: An overcorrection procedure for eliminating stealing by retarded persons.J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 7: 577–581.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, E. S., Guess, D., Garcia, E., and Baer, D. M. (1970). Improvement of retardates' mealtime behaviors by timeout procedures using multiple baseline techniques.J. Appl. Behav. Anal. 3: 77–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coplin, S., Hine, J., and Gormican, A. (1976). Outpatient dietary management in the Prader-Willi syndrome.J. Am. Dietet. Assoc. 68: 330–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeRisi, W. J., and Butz, G. (1975).Writing Behavioral Contracts, Research Press, Champaign, Ill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P. R. (1964). Hypogenital dystrophy with diabetic tendency.Guy's Hosp. Rep. 113: 207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollowell, J. (1975). Personal communication, October 10.

  • Holmes, L. B., Moser, H. W., Halldorsson, S., Mack, C., Pant, S., and Matzil, B. (1972).Mental Retardation, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jancar, J. (1971). Prader-Willi syndrome.J. Ment. Defic. Res. 15: 20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juul, J., and DuPont, A. (1967). Prader-Willi syndrome.J. Ment. Defic. Res. 11: 12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laurance, B. M. (1967). Hypotonia, mental retardation, obesity and cryptorchidism associated with dwarfism and diabetes in children.Arch. Dis. Child 42: 126.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, L. A., Turnbull, R. B., and Page, H. (1966). Effects of jejunocolic shunts on obesity, serum lipoproteins, lipids, and electrolytes.Arch. Intern. Med. 117: 4–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, M. J., and Mahoney, K. (1976).Permanent Weight Control, Norton, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mead Johnson Laboratories (1975).Percentile Chart for Measurement of Girls, Mead Johnson, Evansville, Ind.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, R. O. (1977). Assessment and therapeutic functions of self-monitoring. In Hersen, M., Eisler, R. M., and Miller, P. M. (eds.),Progress in Behavior Modification, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutrition Clinic (1975). Unpublished manuscript, University of Kansas Medical Center.

  • Payne, J. H., DeWind, L. T., and Commons, R. R. (1963). Metabolic observations in patients with jejunocolic shunts.Am. J. Surg. 106: 273–289.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pipes, P., and Holm, V. (1973). Weight control of children with Prader-Willi syndrome.J. Am. Dietet. Assoc. 62: 520–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prader, A., Labhart, A., and Willi, H. (1956). Ein Syndrome von Adipositas, Kleinwuchs, Kryptorchismus and Oligophrenic nach myatonicartigem Zustand in Neugeborenenalter.Schweiz. Med. Wochenschr. 86: 1260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, P. A. (1971). The results of small intestine bypass operations for the treatment of obesity.Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 132: 965–979.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. W. (1976).Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation: Genetic, Embryologic and Clinical Aspects, Saunders, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stunkard, A. J., and Mahoney, M. J. (1976). Behavioral treatment of the eating disorders. In Leitenberg, H. (ed.),Handbook of Behavior Modification and Behavior Therapy, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, B. J., Martin, S., and Foreyt, J. P. (1976).Obesity: Behavioral Approaches to Dietary Management, Bruner/Mazel, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Salary support for this project was provided by DHEW Grants MCT-000407-20-0 and MCT-5P01HD00870-14. Space in which to conduct the project was made possible by NIH Grant No. HD-0258/10.

Authors are listed alphabetically. It is the opinion of the authors that credit should be shared equally for this publication.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Altman, K., Bondy, A. & Hirsch, G. Behavioral treatment of obesity in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. J Behav Med 1, 403–412 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00846696

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00846696

Key words

Navigation