James E. Rohrer (Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, USA) Kristin S. Vickers-Douglas (Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, USA) Robert J. Stroebel (Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, USA)
Abstract
Background: Since confidence is an important predictor of ability to lose weight, methods for increasing weight-control confidence are important. The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between short-term behavior changes (`behavioral bootstrapping') and change in weight-control confidence in a small prospective weight-loss project. Methods: Data were available from 38 patients who received an initial motivational interview and a follow-up visit. Body mass index at baseline ranged from 25.5 kg/m2 to 50.4 kg/m2 (mean_=_35.8, median_=_34.4). Independent variables were change in weight (measured in kilograms in the clinic), self-reported change in minutes of physical activity, age, sex, and marital status. Minutes of physical activity were assessed at baseline and after 30 days, using the following question, _How many minutes do you exercise per week (e.g. fast walking, biking, treadmill)?_ Weights were measured in the clinic. Results: Weight change was inversely correlated with change in confidence (p_=_0.01). An increase in physical activity was associated with an increase in confidence (p_=_0.01). Age, sex, and marital status were not related to change in confidence. Independent effects of weight change and physical activity were estimated using multiple linear regression analysis: b_=_-0.44, p_=_0.04 for change in weight, and b_=_0.02, p_=_0.03 for change in physical activity (r2_=_0.28). Conclusions: Short-term changes in behavior (losing weight and exercising more) lead to increased weight-control confidence in primary-care patients.
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.
Find related papers by JEL classification: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods D - Microeconomics I - Health, Education, and Welfare Z - Other Special Topics I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets