The present study was a retrospective chart review (N=128) that investigated the efficacy of profiles derived from the three factors of the Eating Inventory® test (EI) - cognitive restraint, disinhibition, and hunger - to predict successful weight loss in post surgical laparoscopic banding patients at 6 and 9 months post surgery. Although the EI is commonly used in bariatric presurgical assessment, few studies have found consistent relationships between presurgical factor scores and subsequent weight loss in this population. Based on restraint theory, 7 profiles (high CR, super high CR, high D, super high D, high H, super high H, and null) were derived from the raw scores on the subscales of the EI and tested for weight loss predictive ability using direct logistic regression. Results were mixed with high CR, super high CR, and null profiles accurately predicting successful weight loss. Raw scores on the three factors (cognitive restraint, disinhibition, and hunger) were tested individually for predictive ability using direct logistic regression. Overall results indicated that the profile model accurately predicted more cases than the general factor model. This study significantly contributes to both the bariatric presurgical assessment literature and the restraint theory literature. Suggestions for future research are offered.

A strategy for facilitating post-treatment weight maintenance was examined. Subjects were matched for age, sex, and amount of weight that they desired to lose and were then assigned to one of two groups. Both groups were under contracts and had individually designed self-control programs for weight loss, but subjects in the experimental group lost weight in small steps and subjects in the control group lost weight continuously. The experimental group was predicted to have better weight maintenance after treatment because of a greater number of reinforcements for weight loss. Two-month follow-up data was obtained on the ten subjects who completed the study, and the experimental group was found to have regained significantly less than the control group after treatment ended. The implications of these results for obesity research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to compare dieters' behavior patterns at critical times in the weight-loss process: beginning of treatment, end of treatment, and one year post treatment. Dieters' thoughts, feelings, and actions were assessed after lapses in "high-risk" situations. A review of the extant literature provided insight into the interpersonal, environmental, and intrapersonal risk factors for weight-loss relapse. The Risk For Relapse Questionnaire was developed to assess dieters' probability of relapse. Data were collected by personal interviews. The TFA Clinical Interview was contained in the interview protocol and provided qualitative and quantitative data relevant to each dieter's thoughts, feelings, and actions. A comparison of individual and group thoughts, feelings, and actions contributed to the overall conclusion that the majority of dieters make short-term changes in treatment but return to maladaptive behavior patterns during post weight loss. The results of this study indicate that dieters before and after treatment have the highest probability of relapse, whereas dieters at the end of treatment engage in behaviors conducive to weight-loss maintenance. Dieters at the beginning of treatment were guided by negative feelings leading to impulsivity. positive thinking behavior increased and feelings decreased by the end of treatment. By one year post treatment, 87% of dieters had relapsed and returned to maladaptive behavior. The heavy emphasis on positive actions regardless of negative feelings separated the 13% of weight loss maintainers from relapsers. TFA Systems™ provided a systematic method to evaluate specific thoughts, feelings, and actions relevant to dieters' responses after lapses in "high-risk" situations. Analysis of behavior patterns supported the need for weight-loss programs to require long-term maintenance follow-up. / Ed. D.

Psychosocial differences between weight loss maintainers and weight loss non-maintainers were compared at least one year after reaching a medically approved weight goal through a medically supervised weight loss program. Research questions addressed differences between groups on the dimensions of somatization, obsessive/compulsive issues, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, ability to resolve past emotional issues, social interpersonal relationships, and tolerance of ambiguity. The all-female sample consisted of maintainers of weight loss (N=30), non-maintainers (N=33), psychotherapy maintainers (N=14), and psychotherapy non-maintainers (N=ll). Research instruments administered were the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior, Personal Orientation Inventory, and Budner Scale for Tolerance/Intolerance of Ambiguity. To determine differences between groups, a t test was performed on data relating to the maintaining and non-maintaining groups. An analysis of variance was performed on data related to the maintaining, non-maintaining, psychotherapy maintaining, and psychotherapy non-maintaining groups. An intercorrelation matrix was completed for all variables. Non-maintainers of weight loss had significantly more difficulty with somatic problems as indicated in the results of both the t test and the analysis of variance (p < .009, p < .02, respectively). Non-maintainers expressed more complaints which focused on cardio-vascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and somatic equivalents of anxiety (headaches, pain, discomfort of the gross musculature). An analysis of variance showed non-maintainers (p < .05) to be significantly less effective in resolving past emotional issues than maintainers, psychotherapy maintainers, and psychotherapy non-maintainers. Non-maintainers were more burdened by guilt, regrets, and resentments from the past. Results of the analysis of variance indicated that psychotherapy maintainers (p < .03) were more socially adjusted than maintainers, non-maintainers, and psychotherapy non-maintainers. Inclusion and control subscales characterized psychotherapy maintainers to be more socially adaptable and flexible. They assumed responsibility without support of others and were less burdened with fears of helplessness and incompetence.

The possibility that faulty expectations about success and relapse recovery contributed to poor adherence was examined in this study. Support for such an expectancy model was sought through comparing an index of relative task magnitude to adherence rates. Instructions designed to improve adherence through changing expectations about relapse and relapse recovery were also administered to 46 clients in two clinical nutritional programs. Their adherence rates <in days) were compared to the rates obtained from the records of 64 other clients who did not receive the instructions. To further understand the adherence phenomenon, several other measures were obtained from the treatment subjects. These data were compared to adherence rates in an attempt to identify potential co-variate relationships. Statistical procedures including analysis of variance to determine comparability of subject groups, Pearson Product Moment correlations, t tests of the difference between means, and the Lawshe—Baker Nomograph comparing per cent adherence rates were performed on the data. Obtained results did not support the predicted relationship between relative task magnitude and adherence. This may have been due to differences between subjective assessments of task magnitude and the objective measure used in this study. Although improvement in adherence was noted in both treatment groups, statistical significance was achieved only in the university based clinic. Differences in the settings, assisting nutritionists, and participating subjects could have produced these findings. However, because improvement did occur in both settings, and because the techniques may be easily and inexpensively utilized by clinical nutritionists, these instructions were recommended for inclusion as a routine component of nutritional clinic procedures. No strong co-variate relationships were found between adherence and the additional measures included in the study. The only variables which correlated with adherence more than trivially, emotional response to a verbal food stimulus, and imaging ability, did lend support for this cognitively active method of improving adherence.

An experiment was conducted to contrast the effectiveness of Behavior Therapy administered in self, individual, or group therapy versus a no-treatment control condition. The therapy conditions were administered to two subgroups, high and low self reinforcers, as defined by Rosensky and Bellack (1976). The general hypothesis was that high self reinforcers would engage in countercontrol and therefore do poorly in group and individual therapy, but would lose weight in self therapy. Individual behavior therapy showed the best long term results, but self and group therapies also showed significant weight loss. It was also found that low self reinforcers as a group lost more weight than did high self reinforcers.

No description available.

This study investigated the effects of environmental consequences and data 'collection in a behavior contracting procedure for obesity. Also, a validity study examined the GSR as a subject-independent-monitoring technique. Sixteen subjects matched on sex and percent overweight were assigned to one of three contract conditions or to a no-treatment condition. The Data Only Contract Group received consequences for data collection. The With Consequences Contract Group received consequences for data collection and behaviors relevant to weight loss. The Without Consequences Contract Group received no consequences for data collection or behaviors relevant to weight loss. The With Consequences Contract Group lost significantly more weight ( p ≤ .05) than the No Treatment Group. Specific effects were not determined. The results of the validity study suggest that the GSR may not be a valid instrument as a subject-independent-monitoring technique. Factors affecting the galvanic skin response's- effectiveness were discussed.

Weight loss maintenance and emotional and physical problems were investigated in subjects on a protein-sparing modified fast. Four months following a weight reduction program using the protein-sparing modified fast, twenty of the forty-two subjects were contacted. Each was asked to complete a questionnaire related to emotional and physical effects of the diet and a diet history checksheet. Each subject was weighed to determine if weight loss had been maintained. Results of the questionnaire, diet history, and blood chemistry analysis indicate that for these subjects, the modified fast may be safe and effective in reducing and maintaining weight loss over a short time period under close supervision by a physician.