Changes in Weight Loss, Health Behaviors, and Intentions among 400 Participants Who Dropped out from an Insurance-Sponsored, Community-Based Weight Management Program

Authors

Sam Zizzi, West Virginia UniversityFollow
Jana Lima Fogaca, West Virginia University
Tammy Sheehy, West Virginia University
Myia Welsh, West Virginia University
Christiaan Abildso, West Virginia University

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0063-6992

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2309-7541

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9018-6325

N/A

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1972-2348

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2016

College/Unit

College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

Department/Program/Center

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Abstract

The majority of weight management research is based on data from randomized controlled studies conducted in clinical settings. As these findings are translated into community-based settings, additional research is needed to understand patterns of lifestyle change and dropout. The purpose of this study was to examine reasons for and consequences associated with dropout (or removal) from an insurance-funded weight management program. Using a mixed methods approach with objectively measured changes in body weight and attendance along with quantitative and qualitative survey data, patterns of intention and behavior change were explored. The results from a sample of 400 respondents support the idea that there are both positive and negative consequences of program participation. Overall, 1 in 5 respondents lost a clinically significant amount of weight during the program (>5% of baseline body weight) and 1 in 3 experienced a positive consequence, while only 6% expressed a negative outcome of participation. Additionally, nearly 90% of all of the consequences that emerged from the data were positive. Attitude change was a major theme, including positive health intentions, perceived success, learning skills, and new appreciation of exercise.

Digital Commons Citation

Zizzi, Sam; Fogaca, Jana Lima; Sheehy, Tammy; Welsh, Myia; and Abildso, Christiaan, "Changes in Weight Loss, Health Behaviors, and Intentions among 400 Participants Who Dropped out from an Insurance-Sponsored, Community-Based Weight Management Program" (2016). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2925.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/2925

Source Citation

Sam J. Zizzi, Jana Lima Fogaca, Tammy Sheehy, Myia Welsh, Christiaan Abildso, "Changes in Weight Loss, Health Behaviors, and Intentions among 400 Participants Who Dropped out from an Insurance-Sponsored, Community-Based Weight Management Program", Journal of Obesity, vol. 2016, Article ID 7562890, 10 pages, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7562890

Comments

Copyright © 2016 Sam J. Zizzi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.