Locus of control and self-efficacy in relation to 12-month weight change after non-surgical weight loss treatment in adults with severe obesity – A clinical cohort study

• Background: Sustainable dietary, behavioural and lifestyle changes are necessary to accomplish weight loss. Aim: Evaluate impact of internal motivation, locus of control and self-efficacy on non-surgical weight loss treatment in patients with severe obesity. Methods: A total of 1196 patients, Body Mass Index ≥35 kg/m2, referred to obesity treatment were included. Visual analogue scales for motivation, locus of control and self-efficacy were completed before starting weight loss treatment. Results: A total of 601 patients (42% drop out) completed 12-month weight loss treatment. After 12 months, 94.6% in the Very Low Energy Diet (VLED) group and 79.4% in the dietary treatment group had a weight loss of ≥5% of their body weight. No statistically significant associations were found between achieved weight loss in the VLED group, and locus of control or self-efficacy. Achieving ≥15% weight loss by dietary treatment was related to a higher score on self-efficacy compared to those who lost <5% in weight or dropped out. Conclusion: Self-efficacy appears to be important for weight loss when on dietary treatment without VLED. Attrition rate was higher among patients with lower score on self-efficacy at baseline. The study indicates that psychological factors associated with adherence to, and completion of weight loss treatment deserve attention.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Locus of control

Obesity

Self-efficacy

Very low energy diet

Weight loss

adult

Article

body mass

body weight loss

cohort analysis

controlled study

disease severity

female

human

intrinsic motivation

major clinical study

male

middle aged

patient compliance

patient dropout

psychological aspect

retrospective study

self concept

very low calorie diet

visual analog scale

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)