The purpose of this study was to determine that a behavioral lifestyle modification
approach to weight loss changes participants' dietary intake and physical activity
levels and that these changes were associated with weight loss and weight loss
maintenance. Behavioral factors important in other weight control studies were also
investigated to see if they are important indicators of successful weight control in
this program as well. A group of previously validated questionnaires, along with a
weight history written for this study, was administered to current participants in
Providence Health System's Smart CHOICES program both before and after
program participation. The same questionnaires were administered to past
participants in a one-time follow-up for the CHOICES program approximately 2
years after program completion. The study found that current participant successful
weight losers did decrease their percentage of energy intake from fat more than did
non-successful weight losers over the course of the program. Also, successful
weight losers decreased their caloric intake and increased physical activity levels
during the program and these changes did not occur in non-successful weight
losers. The Eating Inventory scales for cognitive restraint and Westenhoefer's
flexible control showed expected increases and disinhibition and hunger scores
showed expected decreases among successful weight losers. However, non-successful
weight losers showed these same changes except for the hunger scores,
which did not decrease during the program. There were no differences found
between past participant weight loss maintainers and non-maintainers in caloric
intake, percentage fat intake, physical activity levels, Eating Inventory scales, or
flexible and rigid control. When compared to successful weight losers among the
current participants, there were suggestions that past participant weight loss
maintainers and non-maintainers regressed toward their pre-treatment levels in
percentage of fat intake, physical activity levels, and flexible control scores over
time. While the Smart CHOICES program is effective in bringing about short-term
behavior change to produce weight loss, maintenance of weight loss is a problem in
this program as it is in other lifestyle modification programs. The factors
differentiating successful weight maintenance from weight regain after loss in this
program were not identified. / Graduation date: 2002
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/26570 |
| Date | 02 October 2001 |
| Creators | Mann, Janet G. |
| Contributors | Georgiou, Constance |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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