Mr. Lowe et al., An initial evaluation of a commercial weight loss program: Short-term effects on weight, eating behavior, and mood, OBES RES, 7(1), 1999, pp. 51-59
Objective: This paper describes an initial, 4-week evaluation of a commerci
al weight loss program.
Research Methods and Procedures: Respondents (n = 985) to newspaper adverti
sements in two metropolitan areas were assigned to 4 weeks of either the We
ight Watchers program or to a Self-Help condition. Weight loss, psychologic
al vitality, and eating behavior were evaluated before and after the 4-week
intervention,
Results: Weight Watchers participants showed greater improvements than Self
-Help participants on all measures; weight losses averaged 1.87 and 0.77 kg
, respectively. The superior outcomes shown by Weight Watchers participants
on measures of vitality and eating behavior were still evident when extent
of weight loss was controlled. Weight losses across different sites, incom
es, and levels of obesity were similar.
Discussion: Although the present study's intervention and outcome assessmen
ts were short-term, the promising results obtained suggest that longer term
studies should be undertaken.