Maintenance and relapse after weight loss in women: behavioral aspects.
Obese women who regained weight after successful weight reduction (relapsers, n = 44); formerly obese, average-weight women who maintained weight loss (maintainers, n = 30); and women who had always remained at the same average, nonobese weight (control subjects, n = 34) were interviewed. Most maintainers (90%) and control subjects (82%) exercised regularly, were conscious of their behaviors, used available social support (70% and 80%, respectively), confronted problems directly (95% and 60%, respectively), and used personally developed strategies to help themselves. Few relapsers exercised (34%), most ate unconsciously in response to emotions (70%), few used available social support (38%), and few confronted problems directly (10%). These findings suggest the advisability of development and prospective evaluation of individualized treatment programs designed to enhance exercise, coping skills, and social support.
Kayman
S
S
Department of Regional Health Education, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA 94612-2998.
Bruvold
W
W
Stern
J S
JS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior; D001835:Body Weight; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D015431:Weight Loss