title: Evidence that a very brief psychological intervention boosts weight loss in a weight loss program.
abstract: Reducing morbidity and mortality associated with being overweight is a crucial public health goal. The aim of the present research was to test the efficacy of a very brief psychological intervention (a volitional help sheet) that could be used as an adjunct to standard weight loss programs to support increased weight loss in an overweight sample. Seventy-two overweight participants currently participating in a weight loss program were randomly allocated to either an intervention (volitional help sheet) condition or a control (distracter task) condition. The main outcome measure was weight at 1-month follow-up. Participants in both conditions lost significant amounts of weight, but those in the intervention condition lost significantly more than those in the control condition (d=0.66). The findings support the efficacy of the volitional help sheet to promote additional weight loss in an overweight sample engaged in a weight loss program. The volitional help sheet therefore represents a very brief, low-cost intervention that could be used to supplement ongoing weight-loss programs.
authors.affiliation: University of Manchester. Electronic address: chris.armitage@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.affiliation: University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Mehwish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noor
authors.affiliation: Kuwait University.
authors.forename: Soud
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alganem
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Hallam University.
authors.forename: Madelynne A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: brief intervention; health behavior change; implementation intentions; overweight; transtheoretical model