Controlled trial of very low calorie diet, behavior therapy, and their combination in the treatment of obesity.

Assessed the effectiveness of a combined program of low calorie diet (400–500 kcal) and behavior therapy in treating obesity. 50 women (average age 43.9 yrs) and 9 men (average age 44.7 yrs), averaging 89% overweight, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: (a) low calorie diet alone, (b) behavior therapy alone, or (c) low calorie diet plus behavior therapy (combined treatment). Mean weight losses for the 3 conditions at the end of treatment were 14.1, 14.3, and 19.3 kg, respectively; losses for combined treatment were significantly greater than those for the other 2 conditions. At 1-yr follow-up, mean weight losses for the diet alone, behavior therapy alone, and combined-treatment conditions were 4.6, 9.5, and 12.9 kg, respectively; and losses for combined treatment were significantly greater than for the diet alone condition. 29% of the combined-treatment and 44% of the behavior therapy alone Ss maintained weight losses within 2 kg of their end-of-treatment weight; none of the diet-alone Ss met this criterion. Ss in all 3 conditions achieved significant reductions in blood pressure at posttreatment, but only those receiving behavior therapy alone and combined treatment showed significant decreases in depression. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment of obesity by behavior therapy and very low calorie diet: A pilot investigation.

Treated 17 obese females (mean age 37.5 yrs) who averaged 87% overweight for 6 mo on a program of diet and behavior modification designed for weight loss maintenance. Ss, who were paid to participate, received a balanced diet of 1,000–2,200 kilocalories/day for Month 1, a low calorie protein liquid (400–500 kilocalories/day) for Month 2, low calorie protein (fish, fowl) for Month 3, and a balanced diet for Months 4–6. Results show that Ss lost an average 20.5 kg during treatment and showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression even while consuming the low calorie diet. At 1-yr follow-up, Ss had regained an average of 2.1 kg. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

One-year behavioral treatment of obesity: Comparison of moderate and severe caloric restriction and the effects of weight maintenance therapy.

Compared the weight losses of 49 obese women (mean age 39.31 yrs) randomly assigned to a 52-wk behavioral program combined with either moderate or severe caloric restriction. Ss in the balanced deficit diet (BDD) condition were prescribed a 1,200-kcal/day diet throughout treatment, and those in the very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) condition were given a 420-kcal/day liquid diet for 16 wks and a 1,200-kcal/day diet thereafter. The VLCD Ss lost significantly more weight than the BDD Ss at all periods through Week 26, at which time mean losses were 21.45 and 11.86 kg, respectively. VLCD Ss, however, regained weight during the next 26 wks of weekly therapy and during a 26-wk weight maintenance program that provided biweekly meetings. Mean weight losses at the end of the maintenance program were 10.94 and 12.18 kg, respectively. Reports of binge eating declined in both groups, and no relationship was observed between binge eating and weight loss or attrition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior change, weight loss, and physiological improvements in Type II diabetic patients.

53 obese 30–70 yr olds with Type 2 diabetes treated by diet only or oral medication were assigned to a behavior-modification, nutrition-education, or standard-care treatment condition to investigate whether behavior modification would improve short- and long-term results of weight control programs for Ss. The behavior-modification and nutrition-education groups met weekly for 16 wks and were given the same information on nutrition, exercise, and diabetes; however, strategies to change eating behavior were used in the behavior-modification condition. The standard-care condition was identical to the nutrition-education condition except that Ss met only 4 times over the 16-wk treatment period. Results indicate that behavior-modification Ss lost more weight than either the nutrition-education or standard-care Ss during the 16-wk treatment period. However, at 16-mo follow-up, differences in weight loss across treatment conditions were not significant. Physiological parameters and mood improved with initial weight loss, but these changes were not maintained. Physiological changes appeared more directly related to weight loss than to treatment condition. Changes in weight were related to improved eating and exercise habits, and modest weight losses of 4.6–23.6 kg produced significant improvements in blood-sugar control. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exercise in the treatment of obesity: Effects of four interventions on body composition, resting energy expenditure, appetite, and mood.

This study investigated changes in body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), appetite, and mood in 128 obese women who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions: diet alone, diet plus aerobic training, diet plus strength training, or diet combined with aerobic and strength training (i.e., combined training). All women received the same 48-week group behavioral program and were prescribed the same diet. Exercising participants were provided 3 supervised exercise sessions per week for the 1st 28 weeks and 2 sessions weekly thereafter. Participants across the 4 conditions achieved a mean weight loss of 16.5 ±6.8 kg at Week 24, which decreased to 15.1 ±8.4 kg and Week 48. There were no significant differences among conditions at any time in changes in weight or body composition. Women who received aerobic training displayed significantly smaller reductions in REE at Week 24 than did those who received strength training. There were no other significant differences among conditions at any time on this variable or in changes in appetite or mood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exercise and the maintenance of weight loss: 1-year follow-up of a controlled clinical trial.

This study reports results 1 year after treatment for 77 obese women who had been treated for 48 weeks by diet combined with supervised (a) aerobic exercise, (b) strength training, (c) aerobic plus strength training combined, or (d) no exercise. Mean (± SD) end-of-treatment weight losses for the 4 conditions ranged from 13.5?±?9.1 kg to 17.3?±?10.3 kg, but there were no statistically significant differences among groups. Participants in all 4 conditions regained approximately 35% to 55% of their weight loss in the year after treatment; again, there were no significant differences among groups. Participants, however, who reported exercising regularly in the 4 months preceding the follow-up assessment regained significantly less weight than did nonexercisers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transverse myelitis. Comparison with spinal cord presentations of multiple sclerosis

This study reports results 1 year after treatment for 77 obese women who had been treated for 48 weeks by diet combined with supervised (a) aerobic exercise, (b) strength training, (c) aerobic plus strength training combined, or (d) no exercise. Mean (+/- SD) end-of-treatment weight losses for the 4 conditions ranged from 13.5 +/- 9.1 kg to 17.3 +/- 10.3 kg, but there were no statistically significant differences among groups. Participants in all 4 conditions regained approximately 35% to 55% of their weight loss in the year after treatment; again, there were no significant differences among groups. Participants, however, who reported exercising regularly in the 4 months preceding the follow-up assessment regained significantly less weight than did nonexercisers.     

Failure to obtain sex differences in development of obesity following ventromedial hypothalamic lesions in rats.

Gave 24 male and 24 female albino Charles River rats either a high-fat or a ground-food diet following ventromedial hypothalamic or sham lesions. After 63 days on 1 diet, diets were reversed for 27 days. Over 63 days (a) lesioned Ss of both sexes showed a significant increase in weight over their controls, (b) Ss on high fat gained more weight than those on ground food, and (c) there was no difference between the sexes in weight gain. When diets were reversed, lesioned Ss now on ground food maintained about the same weight as before reversal, while Ss switched to the high-fat diet rapidly increased their body weight to a point near that of Ss originally on the high-fat diet. Data indicate that there is no sex difference in weight gain following ventromedial lesions. It is suggested that previously reported differences result from (a) insufficient periods of observation, (b) offering unpalatable diets, or (c) the use of random-bred strains which increases variability of animal size and lesion placement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Importance of metabolism in pharmacological studies: possible in vitro predictability

Groups of 20 male and 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered undiluted Aquacoat ECD ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion by oral gavage at doses of 903, 2709 or 4515 mg/kg body weight/day (dry weight basis) for 90 days. Control animals received water at the same dosage volume as the high-dose group. Body weights and food consumption were recorded weekly. Blood was collected prior to study termination for haematology and clinical chemistry measurements. Survivors underwent complete necropsies on days 91 94. Selected organs were weighed and histologically examined. The only treatment-related clinical sign observed was pale faeces which was noted among males and females receiving 2709 and 4515 mg/kg/day Aquacoat ECD. No statistically significant differences in body weights, body weight gains, food consumption and organ weights were noted among males and females when compared with controls. No treatment-related effects in haematology parameters were noted. Significantly decreased total protein and globulin levels and increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in male rats receiving 2709 and 4515 mg Aquacoat ECD/kg/day were considered to be treatment related. No gross or microscopic lesions were attributed to Aquacoat ECD treatment. Under the conditions of this study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for female rats is in excess of 4515 mg/kg/day: the NOAEL for male rats is 903 mg/kg/day.     

Persuasion and praise as techniques for modifying verbal behavior in a "real-life" group setting.

Investigated the effectiveness of using antecedent persuasive stimulation and response-contingent praise, within a small discussion group context, to modify the rate of verbal participation of Ss in an independent, classroom situation. Ss were 96 male college students who were divided into 12 treatment subgroups and 4 control subgroups of 6 Ss each. 3 treatment conditions were employed: (1) maximum persuasion, (2) maximum praise, and (3) neutral (i.e., minimum persuasion and praise). The treated Ss showed more criterion verbal participation than did the control Ss (.01 level). No differences were found among the 3 treatment conditions. Behavior changes in the treated Ss were attributed to the effects of nonspecific factors in the treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obese binge eaters: Affect, cognitions, and response to behavioral weight control.

The present study compared obese female binge eaters and nonbinge eaters of comparable age and weight on mood, diet behavior, and responses to a standard versus modified behavioral weight-control program. The modified behavioral program emphasized meal regularity, intake of complex carbohydrates, and activity as an alternate to overeating. Binge eaters reported significantly more depressive symptomatology, psychological distress, and maladaptive diet behavior than nonbinge eaters at pretreatment and at all subsequent assessments. Furthermore, binge eaters were more likely to drop out of treatment. No differences in weight loss at posttreatment occurred between binge eaters and nonbinge eaters, but binge eaters regained significantly more weight than nonbinge eaters at 6-month follow-up. Differences in weight loss between the groups were not significant at the 1-year follow-up, and no significant differences between the standard and modified treatment conditions were observed. Marked differences between binge eaters and nonbinge eaters in affect and cognitions appeared to persist despite behavioral treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dietary self-selection in chronically insulin-treated golden hamsters.

24 adult male golden hamsters were maintained on either Purina Rat Chow (chow group) or a self-selection diet consisting of high-protein chow, pure carbohydrate, and pure fat (choice group). Ss were injected for 12 consecutive days with either long-acting insulin (20, 60, and 100 U/kg for 4 days each) or physiological saline. Insulin-injected Ss under both dietary conditions increased their total caloric consumption by up to 33% and gained significantly more weight than saline-injected controls. Choice Ss increased their fat intake in response to the 60 and 100 U/kg dose of insulin, but carbohydrate and protein consumption increased only in response to the 100 U/kg dose. Choice Ss derived approximately 65% of the excess calories ingested during insulin administration from fat but only 20% from carbohydrate and 15% from protein. Results are related to those previously observed in other species. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of the causes of obesity and responsiveness to treatment.

Tested the predictions that (1) the principal attributional effect of a group behavioral self-control treatment for obesity would be to increase Ss' belief in their ability to lose weight and (2) the degree to which Ss perceived themselves to be personally and socially victimized by their weight difficulties would limit the potential success of treatment. 27 Ss (mean age 36.75 yrs) participated under diet treatment, diet plus behavior modification, or delayed-treatment control conditions. In accord with the predictions, the monitored diet plus behavioral self-control treatment was the most effective in promoting weight reduction, and the most powerful predictor of positive weight status at both posttreatment and 4-mo follow-up was Ss' perception that they had the ability to lose weight. Ss who felt personally and socially victimized lost less weight than those who did not. It is concluded that investigating more complex cognitive and motivational effects may hold some promise in describing how therapeutic change takes place as a result of the behavioral treatment of obesity. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of feeding clinoptilolite (zeolite) on the performance of three strains of laying hens

1. One hundred and twenty 16-week-old single combed pullets of three strains were fed on a diet containing 135 g protein/kg with or without 50 g clinoptilolite/kg in a trial with 20 hens per treatment. Sterile river sand replaced clinoptilotile in the control diet in order to keep the diets isoenergetic. The hens were individually caged in a naturally ventilated laying house and fed one of the two diets for ten 28-d periods. 2. Significant dietary effects of feeding clinoptilolite were observed with number of eggs laid per hen, shell thickness, efficiency of food utilisation and droppings moisture content. No significant dietary effects between treatments were observed with body weight, age at first egg, egg weight. Haugh units, food intake/hen and rate of amino acid absorption of radioactive lysine and methionine into the bloodstream. Significant differences between strains were observed with regard to all parameters except food intake/hen. There were no significant strain X clinoptilolite interactions.     

Three-year follow-up of the treatment of obesity by very low calorie diet, behavior therapy, and their combination.

This study investigated the long-term efficacy of the treatment of obesity by very low calorie diet, behavior therapy, and their combination. Mean weight losses at the end of treatment for the three conditions were 14.09, 14.26, and 19.25 kg, respectively. Forty-five of 50 subjects were successfully contacted 3 years after treatment, at which time mean weight losses had declined to 3.76, 4.76, and 6.53 kg, respectively. Differences between groups were not significant. More than 40% of subjects reported having sought additional therapy prior to the 3-year follow-up evaluation and reported having lost an average of 3.42 kg. When weight losses for the three conditions were recalculated to correct for the effects of additional therapy, they declined further to 2.20, 3.54, and 5.11 kg, respectively (differences, again, were not significant). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reactive effects of self-monitoring anxiety.

Taught 80 18–52 yr old Ss to use J. Wolpe's (1969) notion of subjective units of disturbance (SUDS) to monitor anxiety on an ongoing basis. Two studies were conducted to test for reactive effects of the self-monitoring. In the 1st study, statistically reliable decrements in SUDS levels and IPAT Anxiety Scale Questionnaire scores were found for Ss in the self-monitoring treatment condition. The 2nd study incorporated self-monitoring, EMG biofeedback, and a no-contact control group. Statistically reliable decrements to IPAT scores and frontal EMG were observed in both treatment conditions, whereas the control-group measures remained unchanged. No significant differences between the 2 treatment groups were observed on either measure. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mood and weight loss in a behavioral treatment program.

76 obese patients (average age 40 yrs) participating in 2 consecutive behavioral treatment programs completed either the Symptom Check List (SCL-90) and a mood scale (Program A) or the SCL-90, a mood scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Program B). Weight losses averaged 12.2 lbs (5.55 kg) during the 10-wk program. Positive changes in mood were reported during this interval, and these changes appeared to be related to changes in weight. There was no evidence that Ss with juvenile-onset obesity had more negative reactions to dieting than Ss with adult-onset obesity or that dropping out was a response to increased depression. Pretreatment mood measures were not linearly related to success in the program, but evidence of a nonlinear relationship was observed. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Test anxiety and visual vigilance.

Conducted a visual vigilance task (VVT) to determine sensitivity and criterion measures for 20 male and 20 female undergraduate students scoring high or low in test anxiety under either test or no-test conditions. Ss, who were classified as high or low on the basis of the Test Anxiety Scale, were instructed to report the occurrence of brief visual signals over a 36-min period of continuous watchfulness. The VVT was described to half the Ss as a measure of ability on which they were being tested; to the other half, it was described as an investigation of the usefulness of the procedure for future research. Findings show that the detection rate declined across the 36 min of the task among Ss high in test anxiety who believed that they were being tested and in Ss low in test anxiety who did not. False detection rates revealed no significant differences among conditions. Analysis of sensitivity to signals according to statistical decision theory revealed low sensitivity in both the high-anxiety test and low-anxiety/no-test conditions than in the other 2. Analysis of decisional criteria showed that Ss in the high-anxiety test condition were more conservative in setting a criterion than Ss in the other 3 conditions. No sex differences were found. Results are discussed in terms of an elaboration of I. G. Sarason's (1979) model of test anxiety. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thiamin deprivation in ventromedial hypothalamic hyperphagic rats: Anorexia, specificity of food aversion, and a dietary consideration.

In 3 studies, the anorexic consequence of thiamine deprivation was investigated in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) hyperphagic CD male rats under either high-fat or low-fat (HF and LF, respectively) thiamine-free diet conditions. The LF diet maintained feeding significantly longer in thiamine-deprived VMH Ss than in intact Ss, whereas the HF diet sustained feeding in thiamine-deficient intact Ss and accelerated anorexia onset in vitamin-B1-deprived VMH Ss. This effect was noted under both ad lib and pair-feeding conditions. Thiamine-deprived VMH Ss subjected to weight control developed anorexia sooner than intact Ss regardless of the diet employed. The VMH Ss fed an HF diet failed to resume feeding after thiamine readministration, which is interpreted as a permanent aversion to this diet. The relation between dietary intake and conditioned taste aversion is discussed with reference to the VMH and intact rats. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Results with a cementless alumina-coated cup with dual mobility. A twelve-year follow-up study

Two groups of 12 young bulls, as similar as possible with respect to age and weight, were fed a basic diet of hay and concentrates ad libitum for 170 days. The concentrate fed to one of the groups was supplemented with 0.20 mg of organic chromium per kg DM from a fodder yeast product so that the concentration of chromium in the total dry matter of their diet was 0.90 mg/kg, compared with 0.72 mg/kg in the diet of the control group. No significant differences were observed between the two groups of animals in terms of either their daily weight gain or any of the parameters of carcass quality examined. It is therefore concluded that in Sweden there is no reason to add chromium routinely to the diet of intensively fed, growing bulls.