Skip to main content

The weight loss experience: A descriptive analysis

Annals of Behavioral Medicine volume 27, pages 100–106 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: Six months of loss followed by gradual regain to baseline is descriptive of most weight loss attempts.Purpose: This study sought to identify thoughts and feelings accompanying weight loss that might explain the phenomenon.Methods: Thoughts, feelings, and body weight were measured weekly for 6 months in 41 women receiving behavioral treatment for obesity.Results: Overall, the weight loss experience of these women was positive, requiring modest time and effort and being associated with more positive than negative thoughts and experiences. Over time, however, positive but not negative reactions to the weight loss experience decreased, as did the strength of beliefs that the benefits of weight loss were worth the effort. In addition, we found no relation between the women’s perception of effort and weight loss results.Conclusions: Inadequate long-term rewards for behaviors needed for weight control may be an important cause of frequent weight loss failures.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

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

References

  1. Jeffery RW, Drewnowski A, Epstein LH, et al.: Long-term maintenance of weight loss: Current status.Health Psychology. 2000,19(Suppl):5–16

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Perri MG, Fuller PR: Success and failure in the treatment of obesity: Where do we go from here?Medicine, Exercise, Nutrition and Health. 1995,4:255–272.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wing RR: Behavioral approaches to the treatment of obesity. In Bray GA, Bouchard C, James WPT (eds),Handbook of Obesity, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1998, 855–878.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jeffery RW, Wing RR, Mayer RR: Are smaller weight losses or more achievable weight loss goals better in the long term for obese patients?Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1998,66:641–645.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Oster G, Thompson D, Edelsberg J, Bird AP, Colditz GA: Lifetime health and economic benefits of weight loss among obese persons.American Journal of Public Health. 1999,89:1536–1542.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Harris JK, French SA, Jeffery RW, McGovern PG, Wing RR: Dietary and physical activity correlates of long-term weight loss.Obesity Research, 1994,2:307–313.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rothman AJ: Toward a theory-based analysis of behavioral maintenance.Health Psychology. 2000,19(Suppl):64–69.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rachlin H:Judgment, Decision, and Choice: A Cognitive/Behavioral Synthesis. New York:Freeman, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Weinstein ND, Rothman AJ, Sutton SR: Stage theories of health behavior: Conceptual and methodological issues.Health Psychology. 1998,17:290–299.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. O’Connell DO, Velicer WF: A decisional balance measure and the stages of change model for weight loss.International Journal of Addictions. 1988,23:729–750.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yates BT: Cognitive versus diet versus exercise components in obesity bibliotherapy; Effectiveness as a function of psychological benefits versus psychological costs.Southern Psychology. 1987,3:35–40.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Klem ML, Wing RR, McGuire MT, Seagle HM, Hill JO: A descriptive study of individuals successful at long-term maintenance of substantial weight loss.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1997,66:239–246.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Urban N, White E, Anderson GL, Curry S, Kristal AR: Correlates of maintenance of a low-fat diet among women in the Women’s Helth Trial.Preventive Medicine, 1992,21:279–291.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wadden TA, Stunkard AJ, Smoller JW: Dieting and depression: A methodological study.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1986,54:869–871.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Yates BT: Cognitive versus diet versus exercise components in obesity bibliotherapy: Effectiveness as a function of psychological benefits versus psychological costs.Southern Psychologist. 1987,3:35–40.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company: Metropolitan height and weight standards.Statistical Bulletin of the New York Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1983,64:2–9.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jeffery RW, Wing RR, Thorson C, et al.: Strengthening behavioral interventions for weight loss: A randomized trial of food provision and monetary incentives.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1993,61:1038–1045.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rosenberg M:Society and the Adolescent Self Image, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Cash TF:The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire’s User’s Manual. Norfolk, VA: Author, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Stevens J:Applied Multivariate Statistics for the Social Sciences (3rd Ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Smith CF, Burke LE, Wing RR: Six-month outcome of two behavioral weight loss treatments focusing on primary motivations for weight loss. Annual Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, Charleston, SC, 1999.

  22. King CM, Rothman AJ, Jeffery RW: The Challenge Study: Theory-based interventions for smoking and weight loss.Health Education Research. 2002,17:522–530.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, 55454-1015, Minneapolis, MN

    Robert W. Jeffery Ph.D., Nancy E. Sherwood Ph.D. & Kerri N. Boutelle Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts University of Minnesota, USA

    Kristina M. Kelly Ph.D. & Alexander J. Rothman Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Robert W. Jeffery Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristina M. Kelly Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alexander J. Rothman Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nancy E. Sherwood Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kerri N. Boutelle Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert W. Jeffery Ph.D..

Additional information

This research was supported by Grant NS38441 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and by Grant DK50456 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. We thank Carolyn Thorson for her help with data collection and weight loss intervention management.

About this article

Cite this article

Jeffery, R.W., Kelly, K.M., Rothman, A.J. et al. The weight loss experience: A descriptive analysis. ann. behav. med. 27, 100–106 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2702_4

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm2702_4

Keywords

  • Weight Control
  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Weight Loss Program
  • Weight Loss Outcome
  • Weight Loss Experience