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What Distinguishes Weight-Loss Maintainers from the Treatment-Seeking Obese? Analysis of Environmental, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Variables in Diverse Populations

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Understanding the factors that influence successful weight control is critical for developing interventions.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral variables in distinguishing weight-loss maintainers (WLM) from treatment-seeking obese (TSO).

Methods

WLM (n = 167) had lost ≥10% of their maximum body weight, had kept the weight off for ≥5 years, and were now of normal weight. TSO-1 and TSO-2 had a history of dieting and body mass index ≥25. TSO-1 was predominantly Caucasian; TSO-2 was predominantly African-American. Bayesian model averaging was used to identify the variables that distinguished WLM from TSO-1 and TSO-2.

Results

The variables that most consistently discriminated WLM from TSO were more physical activity (ORs = 3.95 and 2.85), more dietary restraint (ORs = 1.63 and 1.41), and less dietary disinhibition (ORs = 0.69 and 0.83). Environmental variables, including the availability of physical activity equipment, TVs, and high-fat foods in the home, also distinguished WLM from TSO.

Conclusions

Obesity treatment should focus on increasing conscious control over eating, engaging in physical activity, and reducing disinhibition. Changes in the home environment may help facilitate these behavioral changes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, USA

    Suzanne Phelan Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Suzanne Phelan Ph.D. & Rena R. Wing Ph.D.

  3. Department of Community Health, Center for Statistical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Tao Liu Ph.D. & Joseph Hogan Ph.D.

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Amy Gorin Ph.D.

  5. Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michael Lowe Ph.D.

  6. The Miriam Hospital, Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Providence, RI, USA

    Joseph Fava Ph.D. & Rena R. Wing Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Suzanne Phelan Ph.D.
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  2. Tao Liu Ph.D.
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  3. Amy Gorin Ph.D.
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  4. Michael Lowe Ph.D.
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  5. Joseph Hogan Ph.D.
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  6. Joseph Fava Ph.D.
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  7. Rena R. Wing Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suzanne Phelan Ph.D..

Additional information

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant DK066787 supplement.

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Phelan, S., Liu, T., Gorin, A. et al. What Distinguishes Weight-Loss Maintainers from the Treatment-Seeking Obese? Analysis of Environmental, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Variables in Diverse Populations. ann. behav. med. 38, 94–104 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-009-9135-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-009-9135-2

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