CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL DIETERS - AN APPLICATION OF SIGNAL-DETECTION METHODOLOGY

Signal detection methods were used to identify predictors of successfu l weight loss in 177 mildly to moderately overweight women and men ass igned to one of two weight-loss programs. Predictors included initial demographic, physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristi cs, and program type (e.g. diet-only and diet-plus-exercise). Successf ul weight loss was defined as a loss of at least two units of body mas s index at one year Four subgroups were identified. Participants in th e diet-plus-exercise program who were initially more satisfied with th eir bodies and did not have a history of repeated weight loss were mos t likely to succeed (63% succeeded). In contrast, participants assigne d to the diet-plus-exercise program who were either extremely dissatis fied with their bodies or who had a history of repeated weighs loss we re at similar risk for failure as participants in the diet-only progra m (only 26% to 35% succeeded). The results underscore the potential ut ility of exploring these subgroups further to inform the development o f new treatment strategies to increase the likelihood of success.