Weight control during the holidays: highly consistent self-monitoring as a potentially useful coping mechanism.
The study examined the extent to which trait self-monitoring (the systematic observation and recording of target behaviors) was related to weight control during the high-risk holiday season. The participants (32 women, 6 men) averaged 223.1 lbs (101.41 kg), 57.2% overweight, 50.2 weeks of participation, and 21.3 lbs (9.68 kg) lost at the beginning of the study. Consistency of self-monitoring and weight changes were assessed for 3 holiday versus 7 nonholiday weeks. Analyses of variance (Consistency of Self-Monitoring Groups x Holiday/Nonholiday Weeks) revealed that participants gained 500% more weight per week during holiday compared with nonholiday weeks. Only participants in the most consistent self-monitoring quartile averaged any weight loss over the 10 weeks of the study and during the holiday weeks.
Baker
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OSF-St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois 61603, USA. rbakerphd@aol.com
Kirschenbaum
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D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001835:Body Weight; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015930:Diet Records; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D015431:Weight Loss