title: Eyes on the prize: The longitudinal benefits of goal focus on progress toward a weight loss goal.
abstract: Past research suggests that focusing on what has not yet been accomplished (goal focus) signals a lack of progress towards one's high commitment goals and inspires greater motivation than does focusing on what has already been accomplished (accomplishment focus). The present investigation extends this research to a longitudinal, important domain by exploring the consequences of focusing on one's goals versus accomplishments when pursuing a weight loss goal. Participants were tracked over the course of a 12-week weight loss program that utilized weekly group discussions and a companion website to direct participants' focus toward their end weight loss goal or toward what they had already achieved. Goal-focused participants reported higher levels of commitment to their goal and, ultimately, lost more weight than did accomplishment-focused and no focus control participants. Accomplishment-focused participants did not differ from controls on any measure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Kyle E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehrlinger
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Eibach
authors.forename: A William
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Crescioni
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alquist
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gerend
authors.forename: Gareth R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dutton