Prospective Relations between Social Comparison Orientation and Weight Loss Outcomes.

Prospective Relations between Social Comparison Orientation and Weight Loss Outcomes. Behav Med. 2018 Jun 26;:1-17 Authors: Arigo D, Butryn ML Abstract Maintenance of weight loss after behavioral intervention tends to be poor, and there is need for an improved understanding of factors that are associated with successful maintenance. Social comparison is known to be a powerful influence on treatment outcomes for group-based behavioral weight loss programs, but little is known about the role of individual differences in social comparison orientation (i.e., tendency to value comparison information) in this context. The goal of this study was to examine prospective relations between social comparison orientation and long-term weight loss outcomes (percent weight loss, aerobic-intensity physical activity) among participants in behavioral weight loss treatment. Participants (n = 161, MAge = 54, MBMI = 34.4░kg/m2) completed a measure of social comparison orientation at pre-treatment baseline. Height and weight were measured in the research center and aerobic-intensity physical activity was assessed via accelerometer at baseline, mid- and end-of-treatment, and at 6 and 12 months post-treatment (representing maintenance). Multilevel models tested prospective relations between comparison orientation and treatment outcomes over time, with emphasis on differences during the post-treatment maintenance phase. Stronger (vs. weaker) general compar...
Source: Behavioral Medicine - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Behav Med Source Type: research