Authors:Professor Ben (C) Fletcher, Jill Hanson, Nadine
Page & Dr. Karen Pine
School of Psychology
University of Hertfordshire
Objectives: (1) To investigate whether a psychological and
behavioural approach to weight loss is effective and produces long term weight
loss maintenance.
(2) To investigate whether increasing behavioural flexibility, rather
than directly targeting food and exercise behaviours, produces weight loss
that can be maintained on a long term basis.
Design: Two longitudinal studies using a month-long psychological
and behavioural intervention programme (Do Something Different) that targeted
distal habits, not food or exercise behaviours specifically. Subjects: 15
participants in Study 1 with BMIs as follows: healthy (2), overweight (5),
and obese (8). 55 participants in Study 2 with BMIs as follows: healthy (6),
overweight (23), and obese (26).
Measurements: Weight, BMI and a measure of behavioural flexibility
(FIT) at baseline. In Study 1 these were taken again weekly and 1 month post
intervention. In Study 2 these were repeated at the end of the intervention,
1month and 2 months post-intervention. Also measured were food and exercise
habits, self-efficacy, fantasies and expectations of weight loss. Results:
In Study 1, 14 participants lost weight during the intervention (m = 2.6 Kg)
and this weight loss continued post intervention. In Study 2, 48 participants
lost weight during the intervention, six stayed the same and one person gained
0.45 Kg. Again, significant weight loss continued post-intervention so that
all 55 participants lost weight. 19 participants moved to a lower BMI group
as a result of the intervention. Weight loss was directly attributable to
increased behavioural flexibility.
Conclusion: Targeting distal habits, rather than food or
exercise,
increases behavioural flexibility which results in weight loss and the long
term maintenance of weight loss.
(This article has been submitted and is currently under review)