title: Successful weight loss in a self-taught, self-administered program.
abstract: There is little evidence concerning the effectiveness of self-help materials for weight control. The purpose of this research was to evaluate a self-help weight-loss program. Obese (body fat > or = 25.0%, range = 25.0-48.6%, mean +/- SEM = 36.5 +/- 1.3%) men (n = 14) and women (n = 21) were given a workbook detailing a behavior modification approach to weight loss that emphasizes self-monitoring of diet and exercise behaviors, and then sent home for 6 months to learn how to lose weight on their own. A group of 9 controls (CONT) who did not get a workbook were used for comparison. ANOVA showed that the experimental group (EXP) lost 8.1 +/- 0.9 (mean +/- SEM) kg body weight, 6.4 +/- 0.8 kg fat, and 3.9 +/- 0.6% body fat; all significant over time (p < 0.001) and different from the CONT (p < 0.0001) who showed no change in these variables. The EXP also reduced their fat intake (% of joules) from 36.1 +/- 1.0% to 27.9 +/- 1.3% (p < 0.0001), increased their carbohydrate intake from 45.7 +/- 1.2% to 50.0 +/- 1.7% (p < 0.007) and their protein intake from 16.3 +/- 0.05% to 20.7 +/- 0.7% (0 < 0.03), all of which were significantly different (p < 0.03) than the CONT who did not change. Dietary fiber increased in the EXP from 19.8 +/- 1.4 to 27.3 +/- 2.2 g/d (p < 0.001) even with a significant reduction in energy intake (11.3 +/- 0.6 vs. 8.9 +/- 0.5 Mj/d; p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Eggert
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lindeman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jastremski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss