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Biomedical subjects

M K Snell

Publications and source records attributed to M K Snell.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Long-term follow-up of behavioral treatment for obesity: patterns of weight regain among men and women.

Maintenance of weight loss continues to be a critical concern in behavioral treatment programs. Problems with the acquisition and/or application of behavioral skills are a likely contributor to relapse. However, biological models, especially the hypothesis of a body weight setpoint, are being offered increasingly as alternative explanations for maintenance failure. Within the context of these sometimes opposing viewpoints the present study describes long-term weight outcomes for 114 men and 38 women assessed annually for 4 or 5 years following completion of a 15 week behavioral weight loss program. Although significant mean weight loss was evident at long-term follow-up, a negatively accelerating pattern of weight regain was the predominant outcome. Less than 3 percent of the subjects were at or below their posttreatment weight on all follow-up visits. Consistent sex differences were found, with women having better weight loss maintenance than men. Implications and potential future directions are discussed.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1988

One-year follow-up study to a worksite weight control program.

Follow-up weights were obtained from 149 participants from two worksite weight control programs 1 year after the end of treatment. These participants regained, on average, 75% of the weight they had lost during treatment. Only 21% of this population maintained their post-treatment weight or continued to lose. We conclude that worksites do not appear to offer special advantages over clinic settings in aiding weight-loss maintenance.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Can self-reported body weight be used to evaluate long-term follow-up of a weight-loss program?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether former participants in weight-control programs would provide valid weight data by self-report in telephone interviews. Participants were 39 women and 107 men (aged 28 to 63 years) who were in year 4 or 5 post-treatment. These represented 95% of participants who had completed all annual clinic visits. Self-reported body weights obtained by telephone interview were validated against weight measured directly in a university clinic. Overall, self-reported weight was 5.9 lb (2.7 kg) (standard deviation = 7.0 lb) (2.9%) lower than the measured weight. Using regression analysis, the strongest predictor of measured weight was reported weight, for both men and women. The bias in self-report of weight seen here is of about the same magnitude and direction as that seen in population studies. We conclude that the use of self-reported weight is not adequate for the assessment of long-term weight-loss maintenance unless the magnitude of discrepancy is adjusted for.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Promoting weight control at the worksite: a pilot program of self-motivation using payroll-based incentives.

Thirty-six individuals participated in a worksite weight-loss program in which the central component was a self-motivation program of biweekly payroll deductions refunded contingent on meeting self-selected weight-loss goals. Half were assigned to early treatment and the remainder to a delayed treatment control group. Nine additional individuals also enrolled at the time of delayed treatment and were included in descriptive analyses of factors associated with weight loss. Results showed low program attrition over 6 months (6%) and mean weight losses (12.3 lb) that are competitive with those obtained in clinical settings. Although not different at baseline, participants in the delayed treatment group lost more than twice as much weight as those in the early treatment condition. This difference was interpreted as either a strong seasonal effect or a critical mass effect related to the proportion of employees at the worksite participating in the program. We conclude that self-motivation programs for health behavior change using the payroll system as an organization framework offer a promising new methodology for promoting healthful behaviors in work settings.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A work-site weight control program using financial incentives collected through payroll deduction.

In a work-site weight control program using a self-motivational program of financial incentives implemented through payroll deduction, 131 university employees chose weight loss goals (0 to 60 lb) and incentives (+5 to +30) to be deducted from each paycheck for six months. Return of incentive money was contingent on progress toward weight goals. Participants were assigned randomly to one of four protocols, involving group educational sessions v self-instruction only and required v optional attendance at weigh-ins and sessions. Overall, dropout rates (21.4%) and mean weight loss (12.2 lb) were encouraging, especially compared with those of other work-site programs. Weight loss was positively associated with attendance at weigh-ins and educational sessions. However, requiring attendance did not increase program effectiveness and seemed also to discourage enrollment among men. The weight control program was equally effective when offered with professionally led educational sessions or when accompanied by self-instructional materials only.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Payroll contracting for smoking cessation: a worksite pilot study.

Twenty-one men and 38 women participated in a worksite smoking cessation/smoking reduction program that combined financial contracts, organized through payroll deduction, and biweekly group treatment sessions. At the end of the program the smoking cessation rate was 51%, validated by expired air carbon monoxide. Six months later the validated cessation rate was 12%. We conclude that payroll incentives may be effective in helping workers quit smoking and offer suggestions for ways to promote better maintenance of this important behavior change.

Adult↗