title: Using motivational interviewing as a supplement to obesity treatment: a stepped-care approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This investigation was designed to improve behavioral weight loss program (BWLP) treatment outcomes by providing stepped care (SC) to individuals experiencing difficulties with weight loss during treatment. SC entails transition to more intensive treatments when less intensive treatments fail to meet treatment goals. In a BWLP, motivational interviewing (MI) may increase participants' motivation toward behavioral change and thus complement the acquisition of behavioral change skills. It was hypothesized that BWLP+SC (MI) participants (i.e., participants who failed to meet weight loss goals and received MI) would demonstrate superior treatment outcomes when compared with BWLP (SC matched) participants (i.e., participants who failed to meet weight loss goals but did not receive MI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five obese, sedentary adults were randomly assigned to a BWLP+SC or a BWLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in weight, cardiorespiratory fitness, self-reported physical activity, and diet (i.e., calories, percentage daily intake of fat, protein, and carbohydrates) in response to treatment were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants significantly decreased their weight, increased physical activity/fitness, and improved dietary intake (ps<.05). BWLP+SC (MI) participants lost more weight and engaged in greater weekly exercise than BWLP (SC matched) participants who did not receive MI (ps<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For individuals experiencing weight loss difficulties during a BWLP, MI may have considerable promise.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA. rcarels@bgnet.bgsu.edu
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Carels
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Darby
authors.forename: Holly M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cacciapaglia
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.forename: Carissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coit
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kaplar
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Chelsea A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Baylen
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Versland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*