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Purpose: Satisfaction is understudied in weight loss programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between participant/program experiences and satisfaction with a weight loss intervention., Design: A prospective cohort design was utilized., Setting: The study was conducted in the Minneapolis metro area., Sample: Participants were obese employees of a managed care organization. One hundred were enrolled, and 78 had complete data available., Intervention: Treatment included telephone counseling along with a home telemonitoring scale and instructions to self-weigh daily., Measures: Outcomes included overall program satisfaction and willingness to refer the program to others. Predictors included demographics, treatment group, participation in other programs, expected weight, general health, body mass index, diet quality, physical activity, body image, mental health, counseling, and self-weighing., Analysis: Quantitative predictor-outcome associations were examined using multiple logistic regressions. Qualitative satisfaction responses were analyzed using a general inductive approach., Results: Weight loss (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83, p = .008), improved diet (OR = 1.27, p = .092), increased physical activity (OR = 1.05, p = .034), and improved body image (OR = 1.38, p = .051) were independent predictors of overall satisfaction. Treatment group (OR = 14.83, p = .015) and number of counseling calls (OR = 1.49, p = .009) were predictors of willingness to refer the program. Qualitative themes indicated desire to integrate counseling on emotional issues., Conclusion: Health progress explained overall satisfaction, whereas treatment characteristics explained willingness to endorse the intervention. Concentrating on these factors may improve retention. Limitations included self-reported measures.

Objective: To test the effects of telephone counseling and telemonitoring on weight loss., Methods: A randomized-controlled trial was conducted over 18 months. Participants were assigned to an immediate or delayed-start group. The intervention included a Thin-Link((R)) home telemonitoring scale and biweekly telephone counseling over 6 months., Results: The immediate group lost significantly more weight relative to the delayed group over the first 6 months (-7.5 versus +1.3 pounds) and at subsequent visits., Conclusion: Compared to no treatment, the intervention was effective at producing weight loss. Home telemonitoring may enhance standard weight-loss counseling.

Background: Frequent self-weighing has been proposed as an adjuvant strategy to promote weight loss. Not all experts agree on its utility, and the literature supporting its effectiveness is somewhat limited by methodologic shortcomings related to the subjective assessment of self-weighing frequency., Design: A prospective cohort design was utilized to examine 100 participants enrolled in a weight-loss trial that encouraged frequent, objectively measured self-weighing at home. Measurements were made at pretreatment and at follow-up visits at 6 and 12 months., Setting/participants: Participants were employed, obese adults enrolled in the Weigh By Day trial. Study data were collected between October 2005 and May 2007., Intervention: The intervention consisted of a 6-month behavioral weight-loss program that employed telephone counseling, a written manual, and a home telemonitoring scale., Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes of interest were body weight and clinically meaningful weight loss (i.e., > or =5%). Analyses were performed in March 2008., Results: Self-weighing was a significant predictor of body weight over time. Participants lost about 1 extra pound for every 11 days they self-weighed during treatment. In addition, participants who self-weighed at least weekly were 11 times more likely to lose at least 5% of their pretreatment weight after 6 months. Improvements attenuated after 12 months., Conclusions: Self-weighing may be a strategy to enhance behavioral weight-loss programs. Weekly self-weighing seems to be a reasonable, evidence-supported recommendation for successful weight loss, but more research is warranted to determine the independent contribution of self-weighing to successful weight loss, as well as its potential risk of negative psychological impact.

Background: Although self-monitoring is a central tenet of behavioral approaches to changing health behavior, clinical and public health recommendations for better controlling body weight do not emphasize weight self-monitoring., Purpose: The objective was to determine whether more frequent self-weighing exerts a positive influence on weight loss or weight gain prevention., Methods: This study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between self-weighing frequency and weight in two distinct groups: 1,226 adults who were enrolled in a weight gain prevention trial, and 1,800 adults who were enrolled in a weight loss trial., Results: Although the samples differed significantly in weight and baseline demographic characteristics, the distribution of baseline weighing frequencies did not differ by study. In both groups, more frequent self-weighing at baseline was associated with greater age, lower fat intake, White ethnicity, current nonsmoking status, a greater history of dieting to lose weight, and lower current body mass index. Despite similar weighing instructions, differential patterns of weighing frequency over time were observed: Weight loss dieters increased weighing over time regardless of treatment group (control or intervention), whereas weight gain preventers decreased weighing over time in the control group and increased weighing over time in intervention groups. Most important, higher weighing frequency was associated with greater 24-month weight loss or less weight gain., Conclusions: Results support the idea that daily weighing is valuable to individuals trying to lose weight or prevent weight gain. Daily self-weighing should be emphasized in clinical and public health messages about weight control. Experimental studies on the effects of weighing frequency in these contexts are recommended.

The article presents a study which examined whether an online program titled 10,000 Steps, which integrates the use of a pedometer, could help a large worksite population increase their walking and lose weight. The program emphasizes increased walking to improve general health conditions related to physical activity. The challenges presented by the nature of real-world pedometer programs are discussed.

Background: Many adults in the United States report engaging in weight loss behaviors. The current study examined weight loss strategies among managed care organization members, to determine the prevalence and impact of weight loss behaviors in this population. We hypothesized that greater engagement in weight loss strategies would be associated with greater weight loss success. Methods: Data were taken from Weigh-to-Be (WTB), a two-year weight loss trial (N = 1801, 72% female, mean age = 50.7 years, mean weight = 95.9 kg, mean BMI = 34.2 kg/m²). Every six months, participants completed a questionnaire assessing frequency and duration of weight loss strategies (calorie reduction, fat reduction, increased fruit/vegetable intake, increased exercise, elimination of sweets, consumption of less food). General linear models and structural equation methods were used to examine associations between weight loss strategy use and weight change over time. Results: Weight loss strategy prevalence rates ranged from 68% to 76% over two years. For all dietary strategies, any use of the strategy between baseline and 24 months was associated with weight loss at 24 months; those who did not engage in the strategy showed weight gains during that period. Results of general linear models and structural equation models indicated that increased use of weight loss strategies was significantly associated with greater 24-month weight loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of weight loss strategies in this obese adult managed care population was quite high, and use of these strategies was associated in dose-response fashion with better weight loss. Future interventions may benefit from emphasis on persistence of similar strategies to achieve more successful outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the conditions obese veterans in the U.S. It highlights the systems science perspective concerning overweight persons in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA). An overview on the systems characteristics supporting VHA vision such as leadership and values as well as connections, is also emphasized.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive literature review to develop recommendations for managing obesity among workers to improve health outcomes and to explore the impact of obesity on health costs to determine whether a case can be made for surgical interventions and insurance coverage. Methods: We searched PubMed from 2011 to 2016, and CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Registry of Clinical Trials for interventions addressing obesity in the workplace. Results: A total of 1419 articles were screened, resulting in 275 articles being included. Several areas were identified that require more research and investigation. Conclusions: Our findings support the use of both lifestyle modification and bariatric surgery to assist appropriate patients in losing weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study was designed (1) to examine the effects of a 10,000 steps·d-1 exercise prescription on sedentary, overweight/obese adults, and (2) to examine the effects of adherence on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. Fifty-six overweight/obese adults participated in the study. Body composition and cardiovascular risk factors were determined at baseline, 20 weeks, and 36 weeks. Adherence was defined as averaging ≥9500 steps·d-1 from week 4 to week 36. Results. 38 participants (68%) wore pedometers daily for 36 weeks and were available for posttesting. Significant improvements were noted in mean values for walking volume (3994 steps·d-1), body weight (-2.4 kg), body mass index (-0.8 kg·m-2), percentage body fat (-1.9%), fat mass (-2.7 kg), waist circumference (-1.8 cm), hip circumference (-1.9 cm) and high-density lipoprotein (3 mg/dl). The adherers had large improvements in body composition measures, whereas the nonadherers showed little or no change in these variables. Discussion. A 10,000 steps·d-1 exercise prescription resulted in weight loss over 36 weeks in previously sedentary, overweight/obese adults. Adherence to the step goal had a marked effect on the outcome. (Am J Health Promot 2006;21[2]:85–89.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]