The use of motivational enhancement strategies for the maintenance of weight loss among obese individuals: a preliminary investigation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of motivational enhancement strategies integrated within a standard lifestyle modification program for the maintenance of weight loss and improved psychosocial functioning of obese adults.


METHODS
Twenty-two obese adults completed 20 sessions of a motivationally informed cognitive behavioural treatment for weight loss and maintenance. Treatment outcome measures included anthropometrics, obesity-specific quality of life, impulsive eating tendencies, body dissatisfaction, mood disturbance and maladaptive cognitions.


RESULTS
At post-treatment, there was a significant decrease in body weight (123.04 +/- 22.06 vs. 116.84 +/- 23.53, p < 0.001) with no significant change by the 12-month follow-up. Patients also reported significant improvements in obesity-related quality of life, impulsive eating tendencies, body dissatisfaction and maladaptive cognitions at post-treatment that were maintained at the 1-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of motivational enhancement strategies within a cognitive behavioural program results in sustained weight loss that compares favourably to previous lifestyle modification programs.
Rieger
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Dean
H Y
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Steinbeck
K S
KS
Caterson
I D
ID
Manson
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009517:New South Wales; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss