Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics of successful and unsuccessful dieters: An application of signal detection methodology

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Signal detection methods were used to identify predictors of successful weight loss in 177 mildly to moderately overweight women and men assigned to one of two weight-loss programs. Predictors included initial demographic, physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics, and program type (e.g. diet-only and diet-plus-exercise). Successful weight loss was defined as a loss of at least two units of body mass index at one year. Four subgroups were identified. Participants in the diet-plus-exercise program who were initially more satisfied with their bodies and did not have a history of repeated weight loss were most likely to succeed (63% succeeded). In contrast, participants assigned to the diet-plus-exercise program who were either extremely dissatisfied with their bodies or who had a history of repeated weight loss were at similar risk for failure as participants in the diet-only program (only 26% to 35% succeeded). The results underscore the potential utility of exploring these subgroups further to inform the development of new treatment strategies to increase the likelihood of success.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kuczmarski RJ, Flegal KM, Campbell SM, Johnson CL: Increasing prevalence of overweight among U.S. adults.Journal of American Medical Association. 1994,272:205–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Van Itallie TB: Health implications of overweight and obesity in the United States.Annals of Internal Medicine. 1985,103:983–988.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pi-Sunyer FX: Medical hazards of obesity.Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993,119(7, Pt.2):655–660.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Burton BT, Foster WR, Hirsch J, Van Itallie TB: Health implications of obesity: An NIH consensus development conference.International Journal of Obesity. 1985,9:155–169.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Brownell KD, Wadden TA: Etiology and treatment of obesity: Understanding a serious, prevalent, and refractory disorder.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1992,60:505–517.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. King AC, Tribble DL: The role of exercise in weight regulation in non-athletes.Sports Medicine. 1991,11:331–349.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jeffery RW, Bjornson-Benson WM, Rosenthal BS, et al: Correlates of weight loss and its maintenance over two years of follow-up among middle-aged men.Preventive Medicine. 1984,13:155–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wadden TA, Foster GD, Wang J, et al: Clinical correlates of short-and long-term weight loss.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1992,56:271S-274S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wardle J: The assessment of obesity: Theoretical background and practical advice.Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1995,33:107–117.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jeffery RW: Risk behaviors and health: Contrasting individual and population perspectives.American Psychologist. 1989,44:1194–1202.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. French SA, Jeffery RW: Consequences of dieting to lower weight: Effects on physical and mental health.Health Psychology. 1994,13:195–212.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Brownell KD, Rodin J: The dieting maelstrom: Is it possible and advisable to lose weight?American Psychologist. 1994,49:781–791.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Forster JL, Jeffery RW: Gender differences related to weight history, eating patterns, efficacy expectations, self-esteem, and weight loss among participants in a weight reducing program.Addictive Behaviors. 1986,11:141–147.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. French SA, Jeffery RW, Wing RR: Sex differences among participants in a weight-control program.Addictive Behaviors. 1994,19:147–158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wood PD, Stefanick ML, Williams PT, Haskell WL: The effects of plasma lipoproteins of a prudent weight-reducing diet, with or without exercise, in overweight men and women.New England Journal of Medicine. 1991,325:461–466.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gossard D, Haskell WL, Taylor CB, et al: Effects of low-and high-intensity home-based exercise training on functional capacity in healthy middle-aged men.American Journal of Cardiology. 1986,57:446–449.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wadden TA, Barlett S, Letizia KA, et al: Relationship of dieting history to resting metabolic rate, body composition, eating behavior, and subsequent weight loss.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1992,56:203S-208S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R: A global measure of perceived stress.Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1983,24:385–396.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cohen S, Mermelstein R, Kamarck T, Hoberman HM: Measuring the functional components of social support. In Sarason I, Sarason B (eds),Social Support: Theory, Research, and Applications. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff, 1985, 73–94.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Garner DM, Olmstead MP, Polivy J: Development and validation of a multidimensional eating disorder inventory for anorexia nervosa and bulimia.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1983,2:15–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. National Cholesterol Education Program: Report of the Expert Panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults, DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 89-2925. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Atkinson RL: Proposed standards for judging the success of the treatment of obesity.Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993,119:677–680.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Meisler JG, St. Jeor S: Summary and recommendations from the American Health Foundation’s Expert Panel on Healthy Weight.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1996,63(Suppl.):474S-477S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wing RR, Jeffery RW: Effect of modest weight loss on changes in cardiovascular risk factors: Are there differences between men and women or between weight loss and maintenance?International Journal of Obesity. 1995,19(1):67–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kannel WB, D’Agostino RB, Cobb JL: Effect of weight on cardiovascular disease.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1996,63(Suppl.):419S-422S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kraemer HC:Evaluating Medical Tests: Objective and Quantitative Guidelines. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lazarus R, Baur L, Webb K, Blyth F: Body mass index in screening for adiposity in children and adolescents: Systematic evaluation using receiver operating characteristic curves.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1996,63:500–506.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Killen JD, Fortmann SP, Kraemer HC, Varady A, Newman B: Who will relapse? Symptoms of nicotine dependence predict long-term relapse after smoking cessation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1992,60:797–801.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Winkleby MA, Flora JA, Kraemer HC: A community-based heart disease intervention: Predictors of change.American Journal of Public Health. 1994,84:767–772.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wilson GT, Brownell KD: Behavior therapy for obesity: An evaluation of treatment outcome.Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1980,3:49–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gettman LR: Personal Fitness Profile Database. Phoenix, AZ: National Health Enhancement Systems, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Spitzer RL, Devlin M, Walsh BT, et al: Binge eating disorder: A multisite field trial of the diagnostic criteria.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1992,11:191–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. King AC, Harris RB, Haskell WL: Effect of recruitment strategy on types of subjects entered into a primary prevention clinical trial.Annals of Epidemiology. 1994,4:312–320.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Rosen JC, Saltzberg E, Srebnik D: Cognitive behavior therapy for negative body image.Behavior Therapy. 1989,20:393–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Perri MG, Martin AD, Sears SB, Leermakers EA: Effects of supervised versus at-home exercise in the treatment of obesity.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1993,15:S56.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Blackburn GL, Wilson GT, Kanders BS, et al: Weightcycling: The experience of human dieters.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1989,49:1105–1109.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Smith DE, Wing RR: Diminished weight loss and behavioral compliance during repeated diets in obese patients with Type II diabetes.Health Psychology. 1991,10:378–383.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Beeson V, Ray C, Coxon A, Kreitzman S: The myth of the yo-yo: Consistent rate of weight loss with successive dieting by VLCD.International Journal of Obesity. 1989,13(Suppl. 2):135–139.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. van Dale D, Saris WHM: Repetitive weight loss and weight regain: Effects on weight reduction, resting metabolic rate, and lipolytic activity before and after exercise and/or diet treatment.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1989,49:409–416.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Bonato DP, Boland FJ: Predictors of weight loss at the end of treatment and 1-year follow-up for a behavioral weight loss program.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1987,6:573–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wing RR: Weight cycling in humans: A review of the literature.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1992,14:113–119.

    Google Scholar 

  42. National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: Weight cycling.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1994,272:1196–1202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Jeffery RW: Does weight cycling present a health risk?American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1996,63(Suppl.):452S-455S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Barlett SJ, Wadden TA, Vogt RA: Psychosocial consequences of weight cycling.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1996,64:587–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Carmody TP, Brunner RL, St. Jeor ST: Dietary helplessness and disinhibition in weight cyclers and maintainers.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1995,18:247–256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Kraemer HC, Berkowitz RI, Hammer CD: Methodological difficulties in studies of obesity. I. Measurement issues.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1990,12:112–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA

    Michaela Kiernan, Abby C. King, Helena C. Kraemer, Marcia L. Stefanick & Joel D. Killen

Authors
  1. Michaela Kiernan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abby C. King
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Helena C. Kraemer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marcia L. Stefanick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joel D. Killen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by PHS individual National Research Service Award 1 F32 HL09380 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded to Dr. Kiernan; PHS institutional National Research Service Award 5 T32 HL07034 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; PHS grant HL24462 from the National Institutes of Health; and PHS grant AG12358 from the National Institute on Aging awarded to Dr. King.

We thank Daniel P. Williams, Ph.D. for his substantive input on this manuscript.

About this article

Cite this article

Kiernan, M., King, A.C., Kraemer, H.C. et al. Characteristics of successful and unsuccessful dieters: An application of signal detection methodology. ann. behav. med. 20, 1–6 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893802

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893802

Keywords

Search

Navigation