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IntroductionThe Weight Loss Readiness Test (WLRT) was developed to encourage consideration of factors influencing readiness to engage in weight loss. The WLRT is used clinically, most notably to assess motivation before initiating Navy weight management programs, yet little is known about its psychometric properties.Materials and methodsThis study examined the reliability, convergent and predictive validity, and factor structure of the WLRT in a sample of active duty service members enrolling in a Navy-based weight management program (N = 178, identified as female = 61%, mean age = 29.7 years, mean baseline body mass index = 33.1 kg/m2). All procedures were approved by the respective Institutional Review Boards and research committees.ResultsExploratory factor analysis revealed a 5-factor structure explaining 52% of the variance that best fit the data with low to moderate correlations between factors: (1) Motivation, (2) Exercise-Related Confidence, (3) Non-Exercise Confidence, (4) Cues, and (5) Anticipated Satisfaction. Internal reliability of subscales was acceptable to good (α = 0.755-0.903). Generally, convergent validity was found between the identified subscales and other measures of motivation, confidence, and disinhibited eating in expected directions. No relationships were found between the subscales and predictive validity outcomes (weight change, program attendance).ConclusionsResults indicate adequate structural and convergent validity in the WLRT, but that weight loss readiness, as measured by the WLRT, does not provide predictive validity regarding weight loss or attendance outcomes in this sample. Nonetheless, this measure offers clinical utility in fostering thoughtful conversations about weight loss. The WLRT uniquely focuses on long-term maintenance of behavior change and differentiates between exercise-related and non-exercise confidence. Future studies should further probe the utility of this measure in other populations and the contexts in which it is being used.

IntroductionAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor psychosocial and health outcomes in adulthood. Veterans and females experience ACEs disproportionately. A greater understanding of this disparity may be achieved by examining the relationship between distinct ACE patterns and these demographic characteristics. Therefore, this study examined distinct ACE patterns and their association with Veteran status, sex, and other demographics in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults to inform interventions tailored to ACE patterns experienced by specific groups.Materials and methodsLatent class analysis (LCA) was conducted with data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, a nationally representative structured diagnostic interview conducted from 2012-2013. The target population was the noninstitutionalized adult population living in the USA. The analytic sample was 36,190 (mean age 46.5 years; 48.1% male). Of these participants, 3,111 were Veterans. Data were analyzed between September 2020 and January 2021.ResultsLatent class analysis revealed a four-class solution: (1) "Low adversity" (75.3%); (2) "Primarily household dysfunction" (9.0%); (3) "Primarily maltreatment" (10.7%); and (4) "Multiple adversity types" (5.1%). Compared to "Low adversity," members in the other classes were more likely to be Veterans (odds ratio (OR)C2vC1 = 1.33, ORC3vC1 = 1.55, ORC4vC1 = 1.98) and female (ORC2vC1 = 1.58, ORC3vC1 = 1.22, ORC4vC1 = 1.65). While lower education and income were also related to higher adversity class membership, Veteran status and sex were the strongest predictors, even when controlling for education and income.ConclusionsDistinct and meaningful patterns of ACEs identified in this study highlight the need for routine ACE screenings in Veterans and females. As in the current study, operationalizing and clustering ACEs can inform screening measures and trauma-informed interventions in line with personalized medicine. Future work can test if classes are differentially associated with health outcomes.