No description available.

No description available.

Obesity constitutes one of America's major health problems. It has been estimated that there are 40 to 80 million Americans who are considered obese (Stuart & Davis, 1972). When 20% above ideal weight is used as a criterion of overweight, it is approximated that 25% to 45% of American adults fall into this category (Rodin, 1977). There is a sex difference in the prevalence of obesity. While some studies suggest that biological factors predispose females toward obesity (Stuart & Jacobson, 1979), other studies attribute the sex differences to social factors (Hall & Havassy 1981; Wooley, Wooley, & Dyrenforth 1979a; Zegman 1983). Research has shown that females tend to be more concerned with their body image than their male counterparts and therefore dieting is more frequent among females (Dwyer & Mayer 1970; Zegman 1983). Sex differences in dietary practices and attitudes toward weight may reflect differential social learning histories between males and females.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between appearance management, created appearance, body cathexis, and clothing behavior for a group of women enrolled in a commercial weight loss program. Subjects were 171 females enrolled in Weight Watchers® programs in Christiansburg, Virginia. No previous research had investigated clothing behavior, appearance management, created appearance, and body cathexis of women in a weight loss program. Because clothing is such an integral part of the self, it was important to examine the influences and contributions of this variable to weight loss. The proposed research model hypothesized that the following variables would be related: appearance management and created appearance, created appearance and body cathexis, body cathexis and current clothing behavior, and created appearance and current clothing behavior. Other hypotheses tested the relationships between current clothing behavior and prior clothing and between demographics and the following variables: appearance management, created appearance, body cathexis, and current clothing behavior. Results indicated that a greater percentage of weight loss was related to a higher average body cathexis score. Respondents wore clothing that emphasized body parts with which they were more satisfied, and wore clothing that did not emphasize body parts with which they were less satisfied. Results indicated that after weight loss, respondents wore clothing that would emphasize their body with more frequency and also wore clothing that would hide or camouflage their body with less frequency. Current clothing behavior also seemed to be influenced by age and marital status. Findings from the present study provide new information about how women choose clothing based on the level of satisfaction with their bodies and where they have experienced a weight loss. The findings also provide information about the types and styles of clothing that women choose as a result of losing weight. Women in weight loss programs can use clothing to enhance their appearance and improve their body image. By increasing body satisfaction and feeling better about their bodies as they are going through the weight loss program, they may be more likely to continue with their efforts and be more successful in their weight loss. / Ph. D.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Aging is the major risk factor for CVD development, which is independently predicted by arterial stiffness (AS). Arterial stiffening is closely related to age-related arterial structural/functional changes and obesity. Therefore, obese middle-aged and older adults are considered a high CVD risk population. In light of the current obesity epidemic and the projected growth of the older population, there is an overwhelming need to determine if weight loss (WL) may reduce AS (CVD risk) in this population. Thus, we hypothesized that WL via a hypocaloric diet-alone would reduce AS in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. To test our hypothesis, baseline assessment of anthropometrics, blood pressure and AS was conducted, and subjects were randomized to a 12-week WL intervention or a control group. Arterial stiffness was measured using applanation tonometry to estimate carotid-femoral artery pulse wave velocity (C-F PWV), and with high-resolution ultrasonography of the carotid artery (β-SI). There were no baseline differences between groups in our variables of interest. Consistent with our hypothesis, both measures of AS were significantly reduced (C-F PWV= -16% and β-SI= -12%, P<0.05) with WL (-8%, P<0.05). Weight loss also resulted in significantly decreased blood pressure, total body and abdominal fat. No such changes were observed in the control group. Pooled correlation analysis suggests that the magnitude of change in C-F PWV was not associated with changes in systolic, diastolic or mean blood pressure. We further hypothesized that reductions in AS, if observed, would be associated with the magnitude of reduction in total body or abdominal adiposity. Concordant with our hypothesis, the reductions in C-F PWV were significantly associated with total and abdominal fat. However, linear regression analysis indicate that neither total body nor abdominal body fat were capable of independently predicting reductions in C-F PWV. Our findings suggest that moderate WL in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults is an efficacious treatment strategy for reducing AS. Further studies are needed to determine if the improvements in arterial compliance would be sustained with long-term WL maintenance. / Ph. D.

This study investigated the relative effectiveness of two group approaches to weight control, one which used a standardized diet with recipes (Redbook Wise Woman's Diet) and the other with an individualized exchange diet and one individual dietary counseling session with the investigator. Except for the dietary component, the two groups had eight identical weekly program outlines. Both groups were compared to a control group receiving standard out-patient treatment approach of one individualized dietary counseling session followed by weekly weigh-ins. There was no significant difference between treatment groups using either change in body weight or change in triceps skinfold measurements as the variable, at either the end of the treatment or at follow-up. This study also looked at eight of the Adjective Check List (ACL) Scales (defensiveness, self-confidence, personal adjustment, interception, heterosexuality, change, abasement and counseling readiness) as a means of predicting successful weight loss (more than five pounds) and the likelihood of completing the program. Participants who lost more than five pounds scored significantly lower on the change scale (p< .05) of their initial ACL questionnaire. Participants who dropped out of treatment scored significantly higher on the self-confidence (p<.05) and counseling readiness (p<.05) scales. Finally, this study evaluated changes in dietary intake before and after treatment. At the end of treatment, dietary intake of total kilocalories and percent of calories consumed as fat both significantly decreased, while the percentage of calories consumed as protein increased significantly. / M.S.

Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Traditional obesity interventions (e.g. drug therapy, diets, behavior therapy) generate moderate short-term weight loss but have little evidence of long-term weight maintenance. The cultural phenomenon of "yo-yo dieting" mirrors empirical findings which suggest that weight loss, albeit demanding, is a far easier process to target than weight maintenance. The present study sought to evaluate the efficacy of an acceptance based behavioral intervention designed to generate improvements in psychological health and quality of life in obese and overweight adults as well as encourage gradual and sustainable weight loss. The therapy package combined the traditional behavioral interventions of self-monitoring and goal setting with an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol across eight weekly individual therapy sessions. While no significant immediate weight loss was observed following the intervention, significant improvements in general psychological health, reductions in anxiety and escape maintained eating, and increases in weight related acceptance and action were found in the treatment group (n = 9) compared to a wait list control group (n = 10). These findings suggest that an acceptance based intervention targeting wide band outcomes might serve as a viable alternative to traditional approaches targeting only immediate weight loss.