FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH WEIGHT CHANGE AMONG CLIENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM INDICATING BINGE AND NONBINGE TRAITS

The long-term effects of a 12- and 26-day residential weight control p rogram on weight change were determined in 187 men and women, 1 to 5 y ears after treatment. Subjects completed a paper/pencil questionnaire assessing current diet, weight control techniques, exercise behaviors, behavior modification techniques, binge eating, and dieting behavior. General linear modeling was used to investigate the association betwe en behaviors maintained posttreatment and current weight among subject s who demonstrated behaviors indicative of binge traits (BT) and nonbi nge traits (NET). Results indicate that dissimilar variables are predi ctive of weight change in the BT and NET groups. Engaging in exercise behaviors and reduced attempts at dieting lead to greater weight loss in NET individuals. The use of preplanning techniques was found to be indicative of greater weight loss in BT individuals. These findings su ggest the importance of identifying individuals who indulge in binge-e ating behaviors prior to intervention in order to deliver the appropri ate treatment methods. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.