LIFE-STYLE MODIFICATION AND RELAPSE-PREVENTION TRAINING DURING TREATMENT FOR WEIGHT-LOSS

A program evaluation involving the assessment of return patients at th e Duke University Diet and Fitness Center (DDFC) was undertaken with t he intention of improving relapse-prevention training for patients dur ing weight-loss treatment. Two-hundred and fifty-two patients (143 wom en, 109 men) who had previously lost weight at the DDFC were assessed on the first day of their return visit regarding their lifestyles at h ome, most frequently encountered high-risk situations, and strategies used to prevent relapse. The study was designed to determine which of these factors were associated with continued weight-loss and maintenan ce after discharge. Regression analysis (F = 19.89, p <.0001) indicate d that time elapsed since treatment was associated with weight gain. M ultiple regression analysis controlling for the effect of time on weig ht change indicated strategies associated with decreased weight during follow-up included ''planning and monitoring'' (t = -2.19, p <.03), a nd ''positive self-talk, putting self first'' (t = -2.51, p <.01). Lif estyle factors associated with success after discharge included ''supp ort'' (F = 10.83, p <.001), ''amount of daily activity'' (F = 10.98, p <.001), and ''quality of daily activity'' (F = 7.69, p <.006). When w e examined the ''most successful'' versus the ''least successful'' pat ients after discharge, ''planning and monitoring'' (F = 8.15, p <.005) and ''positive self-talk, putting self first'' (F = 8.85, p <.004) we re associated with the ''most successful, while ''using no strategies' ' (F = 7.47, p <.007) was associated with the ''least successful''. In light of the findings, suggestions are made for including lifestyle m odification as a major part of relapse-prevention training.