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Objective: Self-regulation interventions encouraging daily weighing prevent weight gain in young adults; however, concerns have been raised that such interventions may have undesirable effects on eating pathology, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The present study examined whether self-regulation interventions and self-weighing frequency were associated with these indices in normal weight individuals and those with overweight or obesity., Methods: Young adults ( n = 599), 18-35 years with a body mass index (BMI) 21.0-30.9 kg/m² were randomized to control, self-regulation with small changes (SC) or self-regulation with large changes (LC). Interventions taught frequent self-weighing to guide behavioral changes. SC prescribed daily small decreases in intake and increases in physical activity. LC prescribed a 5- to 10-lb weight loss to buffer against anticipated gains. Psychological indices were assessed at baseline and periodically over 2 years of follow-up., Results: There was no evidence that the interventions increased depressive symptoms or compensatory behaviors or decreased HRQL relative to control. LC increased flexible and rigid control and SC decreased disinhibition. Results did not differ by weight status with the exception of rigid control; here, differences between LC and the other conditions were smaller among those with BMI ≥ 25. Greater self-weighing frequency over time was associated with increases in flexible and rigid control, dietary restraint, and improvements in HRQL., Conclusions: The self-regulation interventions and increases in self-weighing had no untoward effects. Encouraging weight gain prevention in young adults through frequent weighing and self-regulation appears to be safe for normal weight young adults and those with overweight. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Young adults (YA) are underrepresented in behavioral weight loss programs and achieve poorer outcomes than older adults (OA). There has been a call to develop programs specifically targeting this age group. This study examined the performance of YA enrolled in a low-intensity, team-based weight loss campaign and compared their outcomes to OA to determine the utility of such an approach for weight loss in this population. Shape Up Rhode Island (SURI) 2009 was a 12-week online team-based weight loss and exercise competition (N = 6,795, 81% female, 94% white, age = 44.7 ± 11.2, BMI = 29.4 ± 5.9). YA was defined as 18-35 years and OA as >35 years; YA and OA were compared on enrollment, retention, weight loss, and change in steps. A total of 1,562 YA enrolled and 715 completed the program. Fewer YA completed compared with OA (46 vs. 62%, P < 0.001). However, among completers, YA achieved greater percent weight loss (-4.5 ± 4.0 vs. -3.8 ± 3.2%) and greater daily step change (+1,578.2 ± 3,877.2 vs. +1,342.2 ± 3,645.7) than OA (P's < 0.001). Further, more YA completers achieved a ≥ 5% weight loss (40 vs. 29%, P < 0.001). Findings were consistent in the overweight/obese (OW/OB) subsample, and using ≤ 25 years of age as the cut off for YA. Weight losses among YA in this low-intensity weight loss campaign were quite promising, with over 700 YA completing the program and on average achieving a 4.5% weight loss. Indeed, the potential public health impact of such an approach is substantial; future efforts to develop programs for this age group may benefit from using a low-intensity, team-based approach.

This study assessed young adults' beliefs about weight gain with the goal of improving intervention efforts with this high-risk group. A total of 1,347 incoming freshman (45% male; 81% non-Hispanic white; 18.6 ± 1.7 years; BMI = 23.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2) at a large state university in the Northeast completed a survey designed to assess: (i) degree of concern about weight gain, (ii) level of interest in weight control programs, and (iii) the most acceptable setting for an intervention. Perceptions about freshman weight gain were consistent across gender, with men and women reporting that the average student gains 5.4 ± 1.9 kg and 5.6 ± 1.9 kg respectively. Men in general were less concerned about weight gain (P < 0.001) and reported they would have to gain 6.2 ± 4.2 kg before becoming concerned compared to 3.1 ± 1.7 kg among women (P < 0.001). Overweight (OW) men were more concerned about gaining weight than normal weight (NW) men (P < 0.001) and indicated they would have to gain less weight before becoming concerned (5.0 ± 3.0 kg vs. 6.7 ± 4.5 kg, P < 0.001). Fewer men reported they would join a program to prevent weight gain (17% men vs. 40% women, P < 0.001); the percentage of men willing to join a prevention program did not vary by weight status (P = 0.59). Both men and women were most likely to report a willingness to attend classes on a local college campus compared to other settings. Findings highlight the challenges of engaging young adults in weight gain prevention programs, particularly young men, and are discussed in terms of implications for improving recruitment efforts and intervention development with this population.

Christakis and colleagues have shown that health behaviors cluster in social networks and suggest social norms may account for the clustering. This study examined: (i) whether obesity clusters among young adults and whether social norms do in fact account for the clustering, and (ii) among overweight/obese (OW/OB) young adults, whether number of social contacts trying to lose weight is associated with weight loss intentions and whether social norms for weight loss account for this effect. Normal weight (NW) and OW/OB young adults (N = 288; 66% female; 75% white) completed measures assessing number of OW social contacts and social norms for obesity. OW/OB young adults also indicated number of OW social contacts currently trying to lose weight, social norms for weight loss, and weight loss intentions. Compared to NW, OW/OB young adults were more likely to have OW romantic partners and best friends and had more OW casual friends and family members (Ps < 0.05), but social norms for obesity did not differ between groups, and social norms did not mediate the relationship between OW social contacts and participants' weight status. However, among OW/OB young adults, having more social contacts trying to lose weight was associated with greater intention to lose weight (r = 0.20, P = 0.02) and social norms for weight loss fully mediated this effect (P < 0.01). This study is the first to show that social contacts and normative beliefs influence weight status and intentions for weight control in young adults. Findings underscore the importance of targeting social influence in the treatment and prevention of obesity in this high-risk age group.

Context: Weight gain in young adults is an important public health problem and few interventions have been successful., Background: This pilot study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of two self-regulation approaches to weight-gain prevention: Small Changes (changes in energy balance of roughly 200 kcal/day) and Large Changes (initial weight loss of 5-10 lbs to buffer against future weight gains)., Intervention: Participants were enrolled in 8-week programs teaching Small or Large Changes (SC; LC). Both approaches were presented in a self-regulation framework, emphasizing daily self-weighing., Design: Randomized controlled pilot study., Setting/participants: Young adults (N=52) aged 18-35 years (25.6+/-4.7 years, BMI of 26.7+/-2.4 kg/m(2)) were recruited in Providence RI and Chapel Hill NC., Main Outcome Measures: Adherence to intervention, weight change, and satisfaction/confidence in approach assessed at 0, 8, and 16 weeks. Data were collected in 2008 and analyzed in 2008-2009., Results: Participants attended 84% of sessions, and 86.5% and 84.5% of participants completed post-treatment and follow-up assessments, respectively. Participants adhered to their prescriptions. Daily weighing increased markedly in both groups, whereas the eating and exercise changes observed in the SC and LC reflected the specific approach taught. Weight changes were significantly different between groups at 8 weeks (SC= -0.68+/-1.5 kg, LC= -3.2+/-2.5 kg, p<0.001) and 16 weeks (SC= -1.5+/-1.8 kg, LC= -3.5+/-3.1 kg, p=0.006). Participants in both groups reported high levels of satisfaction and confidence in the efficacy of the approach they were taught., Conclusions: Both Small and Large Change approaches hold promise for weight-gain prevention in young adults; a fully powered trial comparing the long-term efficacy of these approaches is warranted., (Copyright 2010 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: 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., Methods: 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., Results: 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), p < .001; but the interaction of group x time was not statistically significant, p = .84. Across groups, there was a positive association between frequency of weighing at follow-up and overall weight change at follow-up (p = .01). Daily weighing was not associated with any adverse changes in psychological symptoms., Conclusion: 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., Clinical Trials Registration: # NCT00488228.

Weight management is a salient issue for women. Studies of behavioral, pharmacological and surgical interventions indicate that women comprise the majority of patients presenting for weight-loss treatment. In this review we discuss the health impact of obesity for women, review behavioral treatments for adult overweight and obesity, and address topics of particular relevance for women, including concerns that weight-loss treatment may precipitate the development of eating pathology, as well as time periods of high risk for weight gain such as pregnancy and menopause.

Modeling cognitive processes that link variables associated with maladaptive behavior has led to successful interventions, particularly for alcohol use. In the present study, Individual Differences Scaling (INDSCAL) was used to model the cognitive structure of appearance-related comparisons in relation to physical appearance related anxiety and drive for thinness (DT) among 635 college students. Results were consistent with previous work in finding two primary comparison dimensions. A weight/nonweight dimension was primarily emphasized by females and a muscle/nonmuscle dimension was primarily emphasized by males. These gender differences continued to be evident when females and males were matched on levels of appearance-related anxiety and DT. Gender-specific analyses indicated that females with higher levels of appearance-related anxiety and DT primarily emphasized the weight dimension while females with lower levels of these characteristics tended to emphasize a physical attractiveness dimension. Males with higher levels of appearance-related anxiety and DT also primarily emphasized the weight dimension while males with lower levels of these characteristics tended to emphasize a muscle-related dimension. Findings are discussed in terms of risk factors for disturbance, and as a means of improving assessment, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Research suggests that young children have body image concerns, such as a desire for thinness and an avoidance of obesity. Surprisingly, few studies have investigated how children's body preferences and stereotypes are influenced by media aimed at children. In order to gain a better understanding of the content of such media, a content analysis was used to examine body image-related messages in popular children's videos and books. Results indicated that messages emphasizing the importance of physical appearance and portraying body stereotypes are present in many children's videos but relatively few books. Of the videos examined, the ones that exhibited the most body image-related messages were Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. Indian in the Cupboard and ET were the videos with the least number of body image-related messages. Of the books studied, the one with the highest number of body image-related messages was Rapunzel. Ginger and The Stinky Cheese Man were the only books studied that did not exhibit body image-related messages. Implications of an association of beauty and thinness in children's media are explored.