OBJECTIVE: To examine cross-sectional correlates of current, goal, and dream weight and their prospective associations with weight loss in treatment. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Goal and dream weights, demographic characteristics, and psychosocial factors were assessed by self-report questionnaire in 302 adult women enrolled in a weight loss trial. Height and weight were assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks of active treatment, and at 6- and 18-month follow-up. Regression techniques examined associations among baseline, goal, and dream weights, psychosocial factors, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: On average, goal and dream weight losses were unrealistically high (-24% and -30%, respectively). High goals were associated with greater expected effort and greater expected reward but were not associated with psychological distress. Goal and dream weight losses were only weakly associated with behavioral or weight outcomes. An association between higher dream weight losses and greater weight loss at 18 months was the only outcome result to reach statistical significance. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that lack of realism in weight loss goals is not important enough to justify counseling people to accept lower weight loss goals when trying to lose weight.
OBJECTIVE: To examine cross-sectional correlates of current, goal, and dream weight and their prospective associations with weight loss in treatment. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Goal and dream weights, demographic characteristics, and psychosocial factors were assessed by self-report questionnaire in 302 adult women enrolled in a weight loss trial. Height and weight were assessed at baseline, after 8 weeks of active treatment, and at 6- and 18-month follow-up. Regression techniques examined associations among baseline, goal, and dream weights, psychosocial factors, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: On average, goal and dream weight losses were unrealistically high (-24% and -30%, respectively). High goals were associated with greater expected effort and greater expected reward but were not associated with psychological distress. Goal and dream weight losses were only weakly associated with behavioral or weight outcomes. An association between higher dream weight losses and greater weight loss at 18 months was the only outcome result to reach statistical significance. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that lack of realism in weight loss goals is not important enough to justify counseling people to accept lower weight loss goals when trying to lose weight.
Authors: Krista Casazza; Andrew Brown; Arne Astrup; Fredrik Bertz; Charles Baum; Michelle Bohan Brown; John Dawson; Nefertiti Durant; Gareth Dutton; David A Fields; Kevin R Fontaine; Steven Heymsfield; David Levitsky; Tapan Mehta; Nir Menachemi; P K Newby; Russell Pate; Hollie Raynor; Barbara J Rolls; Bisakha Sen; Daniel L Smith; Diana Thomas; Brian Wansink; David B Allison Journal: Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr Date: 2015 Impact factor: 11.176
Authors: K Resnicow; F McMaster; S Woolford; E Slora; A Bocian; D Harris; J Drehmer; R Wasserman; R Schwartz; E Myers; J Foster; L Snetselaar; D Hollinger; K Smith Journal: Pediatr Obes Date: 2011-12-13 Impact factor: 4.000
Authors: Anthony N Fabricatore; Thomas A Wadden; Jeffrey M Rohay; Janine L Pillitteri; Saul Shiffman; Andrea M Harkins; Steven L Burton Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2008-08-14 Impact factor: 5.002