Behavioral self-regulation for weight loss in young adults: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To determine the feasibility of recruiting and retaining young adults in a brief behavioral weight loss intervention tailored for this age group, and to assess the preliminary efficacy of an intervention that emphasizes daily self-weighing within the context of a self-regulation model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty young adults (29.1 ± 3.9 years, range 21–35, average BMI of 33.36 ± 3.4) were randomized to one of two brief behavioral weight loss interventions: behavioral self-regulation (BSR) or adapted standard behavioral treatment (SBT). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment (10 weeks), and follow-up (20 weeks). Intent to treat analyses were conducted using general linear modeling in SPSS version 14.0.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants in both groups attended an average of 8.7 out of 10 group meetings, and retention rates were 93% and 88% for post-treatment and follow-up assessments, respectively. Both groups achieved significant weight losses at post-treatment (BSR = -6.4 kg (4.0); SBT = -6.2 kg (4.5) and follow-up (BSR = -6.6 kg (5.5); SBT = -5.8 kg (5.2), <it>p </it>< .001; but the interaction of group × time was not statistically significant, <it>p </it>= .84. Across groups, there was a positive association between frequency of weighing at follow-up and overall weight change at follow-up (<it>p </it>= .01). Daily weighing was not associated with any adverse changes in psychological symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Young adults can be recruited and retained in a behavioral weight loss program tailored to their needs, and significant weight losses can be achieved and maintained through this brief intervention. Future research on the longer-term efficacy of a self-regulation approach using daily self-weighing for weight loss in this age group is warranted.</p> <p>Clinical Trials Registration</p> <p># NCT00488228</p>