The relationship between self-efficacy, attributions, and weight loss in a weight rehabilitation program.

Assessed the relationship between self-efficacy, attributions, and weight loss in the context of a weight rehabilitation program. Pretreatment, posttreatment, and followup assessments of self-efficacy, weight loss, and success–failure attributions were obtained from 38 volunteer overweight women (aged 21–65 yrs) participating in the program. Self-efficacy was significantly enhanced as a result of treatment, although it was not significantly related to weight loss during treatment. However, changes in efficacy expectations during follow-up did coincide with weight change during those intervals. In addition, efficacy expectations alone at treatment termination were found to be a significant predictor of weight loss following a 6-wk and 6-mo follow-up. Success–failure attributions contributed significantly to the prediction of efficacy expectations during treatment and during the 6-wk follow-up. Weight loss during treatment was not a significant determinant of treatment-induced self-efficacy enhancement. Results are interpreted in light of the reciprocal interaction between actual behavior change and cognitive factors in the context of a rehabilitation program. (18 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)     

Situational management, standard setting, and self-reward in a behavior modification weight loss program.

In a comprehensive weight loss program, overweight women exposed to instruction in self-standard setting as well as to situational management techniques lost more weight than those instructed only in situational management techniques. Addition of instruction in self-reinforcement to standard setting and situational management failed to produce additional weight loss. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of a multicomponent maintenance program on long-term weight loss.

Following a standard regimen of behavioral weight loss treatment, 43 21–60 yr old moderately obese clients received either 6 booster sessions or 6 sessions of training in the use of a maintenance program consisting of self-help group meetings and client–therapist contacts by mail and telephone. Results of 15- and 21-mo follow-up assessments revealed that the multicomponent program significantly enhanced the maintenance of weight loss. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of increasing initial weight loss with the Scarsdale Diet on subsequent weight loss in a behavioral treatment program.

20 overweight Ss (aged 20–65 yrs) who participated in a behavioral weight control program that included 2 wks on the Scarsdale diet lost more weight during that period than did 19 Ss in a behavioral group without the diet. The experimental manipulation of initial weight loss did not significantly affect subsequent or overall weight loss. At 1 yr, the average weight losses of the Scarsdale and behavioral conditions were not significantly different. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A behaviorally oriented weight loss program for counseling centers.

Compared the effectiveness of several weight loss programs offered through a university counseling center, using 80 undergraduates as Ss. Although Ss met for only 2 treatment sessions, the behavior therapy group had lost significantly more weight at a follow-up than the rational therapy, self-directed, and no-treatment control groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing program persistence in professional weight loss programs involving cognitive self-persuasion.

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of a new members' orientation program on attrition for female clients at 6 weight loss centers. 147 clients participated either in a 4-hr motivation enhancement program (MEP) based on cognitive self-persuasion principles from the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) or in 1 of 3 control conditions. The program emphasized the development and maintenance of positive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward regular behavioral education classes. Control groups were time-attention, standard program, and those refusing the new program. Results indicated that clients in the MEP attended significantly more consecutive weeks of classes than others. Results indicate the therapeutic value of cognitive self-persuasion techniques used in the MEP. Suggestions for future clinical studies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development and empirical evaluation of a self-administered assertiveness training program.

A self-administered assertiveness training program, developed from empirical data involving assertiveness training and self-control, was designed to train refusal of unreasonable requests not only from strangers but also in the context of close relationships in which continuation of the relationship is important. A comparison with a procedurally parallel placebo program, which was empirically established to be equally credible, indicated that both programs increased assertive expression of rights. (Ss were 20 volunteers.) However, the assertiveness program produced superior effectiveness of assertion, content of assertion, verbalization of assertion-related obligations, persistent assertive responding, and rational cognitive behaviors. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of a television-delivered behavioral weight loss program: Are the ratings acceptable?

This experiment evaluated the efficacy of television delivery of a behavioral weight reduction program. Seventy-one overweight adults were randomly assigned to a live-contact weight loss group that was videotaped for viewing by other groups, a live-contact group that was not videotaped, a television-delivered group that observed the videotaped weight loss sessions, or a waiting-list control group. Participants in all 3 treatment groups lost significantly more weight during the 8-week treatment program than those in the waiting-list control group. There were no significant weight loss differences among the 3 treatment groups during the program. These weight changes were maintained at 3-month follow-up. At 15-month follow-up, the television-delivered group and the live-contact group maintained their weight losses, whereas the videotaped group did not. Cost-effectiveness analyses indicated that the television-delivered group received the most cost-effective treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detrimental effects of a self-reward contracting program on subjects' involvement in self-administered desensitization.

Assessed a self-reward contracting procedure intended to facilitate the completion of self-administered desensitization. 24 self-referred snake phobics received either (a) self-administered desensitization, (b) self-administered desensitization with self-reward contracting, or (c) a self-administered placebo with self-reward contracting. Results show that the self-reward procedure significantly impaired the amount of time and number of sessions that Ss devoted to their self-instructional manuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation of counselor identification of client problem description to continuance in a behavioral weight loss program.

I investigated the relation of counselor ability to articulate salient information to continuance in a weight loss program in two studies. In the first, clients (N?=?39) were asked questions regarding their weight loss problems, and counselors were asked to predict client responses. A higher proportion of accurate predictions occurred for clients who later completed the program than for those who dropped out. Within the completer group, there was greater weight loss in cases that had been accurately predicted than in those that had not. The second study was identical to the first except for program duration, which was eight sessions for the first and six sessions for the second (N?=?41 clients). The results of the second study replicated those of the first with regard to continuance but not outcome. I discuss the relevance of the results to similar research done with different client populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improved psychological well-being, quality of life, and health practices in moderately overweight women participating in a 12-week structured weight loss program

The first objective of this study was to confirm that 4 days of head-down tilt (HDT) were sufficient to induce orthostatic intolerance, and to check if 4 days of physical confinement may also induce orthostatic intolerance. Evidence of orthostatic intolerance during tilt-up tests was obtained from blood pressure and clinical criteria. The second objective was to quantify the arterial and venous changes associated with orthostatic intolerance and to check whether abnormal responses to the tilt test and lower body negative pressure (LBNP) may occur in the absence of blood pressure or clinical signs of orthostatic intolerance. The cerebral and lower limb arterial blood flow and vascular resistance, the flow redistribution between these two areas, and the femoral vein distension were assessed during tilt-up and LBNP by ultrasound. Eight subjects were given 4 days of HDT and, 1 month later, 4 days of physical confinement. Tilt and LBNP test were performed pre- and post-HDT and confinement. Orthostatic intolerance was significantly more frequent after HDT (63%) than after confinement (25%, P < 0.001). Cerebral haemodynamic responses to tilt-up and LBNP tests were similar pre- and post-HDT or confinement. Conversely, during both tilt and LBNP tests the femoral vascular resistances increased less (P < 0.002), and the femoral blood flow reduced less (P < 0.001) after HDT than before HDT or after confinement. The cerebral to femoral blood flow ratio increased less after HDT than before (P < 0.002) but remained unchanged before and after confinement. This ratio was significantly more disturbed in the subjects who did not complete the tilt test. The femoral superficial vein was more distended during post-HDT LBNP than pre-HDT or after confinement (P < 0.01). In conclusion, 4 days of HDT were enough to alter the lower limb arterial vasoconstriction and venous distensibility during tilt-up and LBNP, which reduced the flow redistribution in favour of the brain in all HDT subjects. Confinement did not alter significantly the haemodynamic responses to orthostatic tests. The cerebral to femoral blood flow ratio measured during LBNP was the best predictor of orthostatic intolerance.     

Restraint, weight loss, and variability of body weight.

Restrained and unrestrained Ss (n?=?24) were weighed daily for a 6-wk period and again 6 mo later in order to determine whether dietary restraint or relative body weight is the better predictor of weight variability. Restraint was a significantly better predictor of naturally occurring weight fluctuations than was relative body weight. Furthermore, the 2 factors of the Restraint Scale, Concern for Dieting and Weight Fluctuations, were both significant predictors of weight variability. We propose that exaggerated weight fluctuations are not a natural concomitant of higher body weight but possibly the consequence of a cycle of dieting and overeating, which seems to preclude actual weight loss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abdominal pain, weight loss, tarry stools

A 65-year-old man had abdominal pain and night sweat for several weeks. He had lost weight and also reported black stools. Anemia of iron deficiency was found in laboratory tests. Further investigation revealed a stenosing process in the small intestine as source of bleeding. High grade non-Hodgkins' lymphoma was diagnosed histologically in the resected bowel segment and the mesenteric lymph nodes. Further staging did not reveal further manifestations of lymphoma. Polychemotherapy and subsequent irradiation were administered.     

Recurrent fever, nocturnal sweating, weight loss

A 69-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for fever of unknown origin with nightsweats and weight loss. Diagnosis of endocarditis lenta with streptococcus viridans and a preexisting mitral-valve prolapse with small regurgitation jet was established. Signs and symptoms of endocarditis lenta are stressed in the discussion. Special attention is given to transesophageal echocardiography and to the connection of endocarditis with mitral-valve prolapse.     

The PATHWAYS church-based weight loss program for urban African-American women at risk for diabetes

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to test the effectiveness of PATHWAYS, a weight loss program designed specifically for urban African-American women, when administered in urban churches by trained lay facilitators. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-nine obese women were recruited from three urban African-American churches. After randomization and the collection of baseline data on weight and lifestyle practices, subjects in the experimental group (n = 19) were assigned to receive a 14-week weight loss program (PATHWAYS) conducted by trained lay volunteers; control group subjects (n = 20) were put on a waiting list to receive the program at the conclusion of the study period. RESULTS: Of the 39 women enrolled, 15 experimental group subjects and 18 control group subjects were available for posttreatment data collection. After completing the program, PATHWAYS participants lost an average of 10.0 lb, and the control group subjects gained an average of 1.9 lb. Posttreatment difference in weight loss between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Waist circumference among PATHWAYS participants decreased 2.5 inches, while waist circumference among control group subjects remained relatively the same. This difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A weight loss program administered by trained lay volunteers was effective in producing significant and clinically meaningful weight loss among African-American women who often do not benefit from typical weight loss programs. Ongoing research is focusing on whether the weight loss can be maintained or enhanced through monthly reinforcement sessions.     

Contingent therapist contact in a behavioral weight control program.

Assigned 45 20–70 yr old overweight clients to 1 of 3 treatment conditions to determine whether contact with the therapist can serve as a reinforcer for the performance of behaviors involved in weight loss. Group 1 had contact with the therapist noncontingent on weight loss. Group 2 had contact with the therapist contingent on meeting weight loss goals of 2 pounds (.91 kg) each week. Group 3 had contact with the therapist if they did not meet the weight loss goals. Results show that although there were nonsignificant differences between the groups in weight loss during treatment, Group 3 regained the most during the subsequent 6 mo and had the poorest results overall. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)