title: Factors associated with dropout in a group weight-loss programme: a longitudinal investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attrition is a major limitation of most weight management intervention programmes. The present study aimed to conduct an extensive investigation of personal, sociodemographic and treatment-related factors associated with attrition at different stages of a 10-week group weight-loss programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study is part of a longitudinal, clinical intervention study comparing three conditions in a 10-week group programme: Control, Behavioural Intentions and Implementation Intentions. The study included 587 participants with a mean (SD) age of 46 (11) years (range 18-78 years) and a mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) of 31.9 (5.5) kg m(-2), with 90% being female. To characterise dropout in each week separately, as well as overall dropout (dropout until week 9, the median time of dropout), we tested several logistic regression models, including multiple imputations to cope with missing data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the different dropout models consistently showed that a smaller reduction in BMI in the first 2 weeks of the programme was the strongest predictor of dropout. Dropout in the tenth and last week differed from the earlier weeks both in the relatively high dropout rate (56% of total dropout) and in that, in contrast to earlier weeks, the week 10 model included the reduction in BMI during the last 2 weeks before dropout but did not include the reduction in BMI at the initiation of the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight-loss in the beginning of the programme is a crucial independent determinant of dropout in each week except the last one. This finding is important because it suggests a simple assessment for a major dropout risk factor in adult weight-loss intervention programmes.
authors: Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, National Center of Childhood Diabetes, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqwa, Israel.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Yackobovitch-Gavan
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Steinberg
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Endevelt
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Benyamini
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adults; dropout; human; obesity; weight-loss programme