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Psychological Factors Discriminating Between Successful and Unsuccessful Weight Loss in a Behavioral Exercise and Nutrition Education Treatment

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Abstract

Background

Psychological and behavioral characteristics that predict success or failure with weight-loss treatments are poorly understood.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess whether social cognitive theory-based factors discriminate between women who are successful and unsuccessful at weight loss.

Method

Obese women (BMI = 30 to 45 kg/m2) who participated in a treatment of behavioral exercise support counseling and nutrition education were divided into quartiles based on percentage of body weight lost over 6 months. Factors based on social cognitive theory, both at baseline and change over 6 months, and exercise attendance were used to discriminate between the successful (highest quartile, Mchange in body weight = −9.3%; n = 40) and unsuccessful (lowest quartile, Mchange in body weight = 1.9%; n = 37) groups.

Results

Stepwise discriminant analyses indicated that body satisfaction and tension (anxiety) scores at baseline, and changes over 6 months in self-regulatory efficacy and body satisfaction, made significant contributions to predicting group membership (64% and 69% of cases were correctly classified, respectively). Attendance percentage of exercise sessions was significantly greater for the successful weight-loss group, and when added as a predictor, changes in self-regulatory efficacy and attendance made a significant contribution to predicting group membership (81% of cases were correctly classified).

Conclusion

Further research may enable psychological determinants to better guide weight loss theory and treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Avenue, NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA

    James J. Annesi

  2. Kaiser Permanente, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Ann C. Whitaker

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  1. James J. Annesi
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  2. Ann C. Whitaker
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Correspondence to James J. Annesi.

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Annesi, J.J., Whitaker, A.C. Psychological Factors Discriminating Between Successful and Unsuccessful Weight Loss in a Behavioral Exercise and Nutrition Education Treatment. Int.J. Behav. Med. 17, 168–175 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-009-9056-2

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