An evaluation of a home video weight loss program

✍ Scribed by Marston, Albert R.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 341 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/1098-108x(198609)5:6<1083::aid-eat2260050612>3.0.co;2-o

✦ Synopsis

Two samples of 99 and 63 subjects more than 15% overweight (mean preweights 200 and 189 lb) utilized a 30 segment home video weight loss program and were followed over a 4-5 month period. During a one-month waiting period, 54.7% of the second sample gained weight. Within 4-5 weeks after receiving the program by mail, 97% of those in the first sample who viewed half or more of the video reported losing weight. At 4 months follow-up, 63% continued to lose weight, and 85% of the sample lost a mean of 9.0 Ib; 40% lost 10 or more pounds. The dropout rates (viewing less than'half the program) were 3 1 % and 37% for the two samples.

Poor success rates and a general unwillingness to cope with the problems associated with treating obesity has tended to discourage physicians from addressing this important clinical and preventive area. There is now a sizeable literature on the use of behavioral, or more broadly psychological, techniques to assist in weight control. See Foreyt, Goodrick, and Gotto (1981) for a recent review. Three problems appear to be most pressing: classification methods to determine which techniques work best for which patients, a better understanding of factors producing long-term maintenance, and the development of costeffective service delivery for the sizeable population in need. The present report addresses this last concern with the evaluation of a comprehensive program designed for use by the rapidly increasing number of owners of home videotape recorders (VCRs).