title: Outcomes of a traditional weight control program and a nondiet alternative: a one-year comparison.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a traditional weight control program and nondiet alternative in improving behavioral (e.g., restrained, emotional, and external eating), psychological (e.g., body preoccupation, physical self-esteem), and biomedical (e.g., body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol) outcomes. There were 2 intervention groups--traditional weight control (TWC) and Diet Free Forever (DFF); a nonvolunteer comparison group; and a control group, all made up of employees of 3M (N = 357). The 2 intervention groups participated in 10-week eating programs. Outcome variables were assessed at baseline, at 10 weeks for the intervention groups only, and again at 1 year. At baseline, the 2 intervention groups had higher restrained, external, and emotional eating scores, greater body preoccupation, and lower physical self-esteem than the comparison and control groups. They also weighed more. At 1 year, both intervention groups had decreased their body preoccupation and increased their physical self-esteem. Participants in the DFF program reduced their restrained eating, whereas those in the TWC program increased their restrained eating. Neither eating program had an impact on the biomedical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Steinhardt
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bezner
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept