Measuring social processes regarding eating, physical activity, and weight in higher-weight people: the weight-related interactions scale (WRIS).

PURPOSE: This study sought to develop a psychometrically sound measure to assess effective and ineffective forms of input from others regarding eating, physical activity, and weight in higher-weight people, namely, the Weight-Related Interactions Scale (WRIS). METHODS: Participants (n = 736) were adults in the overweight/obese weight ranges who completed the WRIS and measures of weight-specific social support, emotional eating, weight stigma, eating-specific self efficacy, and social desirability. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the WRIS supported a three-factor solution of 'Criticism', 'Minimization', and 'Collaboration' as forms of weight-related input from others. Support was found for the reliability and the concurrent, convergent, and divergent validity of the WRIS. CONCLUSIONS: The WRIS is a promising new instrument for comprehensively assessing the input of others in relation to eating, physical activity, and weight among higher-weight individuals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

High or low intensity text-messaging combined with group treatment equally promote weight loss maintenance in obese adults.

BACKGROUND: Text-message and e-mail are emerging as potential methods for improving weight outcomes among obese individuals. The optimal volume, frequency, and timing of such interventions are unknown. This study investigated the effect of adjunct technological support on weight and psychological variables after a 3-month cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) group intervention. METHODS: Sixty obese adults were randomised to a CBT programme plus intensive (text-message and e-mail; CBT+ITS) or minimal (text-message only; CBT+MTS) technological support. Assessments occurred at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 15-months. Outcome variables included weight (kg), body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference (cm), binge-eating tendencies, weight self-efficacy, and weight control cognitions and behaviours. RESULTS: CBT+ITS (n=31) and CBT+MTS (n=29) participants lost 5.2% (±1.1) and 4.7% (±1.1) of their baseline weight by 3-months, 8.4% (±1.2) and 6.4% (±1.1) by 6-months, 9.6% (±1.3) and 6.4% (±1.3) by 9-months, and sustained a 7.5% (±1.3) and 5.1% (±1.3) loss at 15-months, respectively. There were no significant differences between intensive and minimal support, however, the CBT+ITS group showed a marginal advantage across all anthropometric measures. CONCLUSIONS: A low intensity text-message support programme is just as effective as higher intensity technological support for maintaining weight loss in obese adults. This represents a low-cost means of aiding weight loss maintenance without reliance on extended face-to-face treatment.

Stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with anorexia nervosa: an investigation of attribution theory.

BACKGROUND: Guided by Attribution Theory, this study assessed stigmatizing attitudes towards an individual with anorexia nervosa (AN) compared to obesity and skin cancer, and examined the extent to which manipulating a target individual's level of blameworthiness affects levels of stigmatizing attitudes. One hundred and thirty-five female undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Before and after receiving blameworthy or non-blameworthy information relating to the target's condition, participants completed a series of self-report inventories measuring their emotional reactions, desire for social distance, and causal attributions regarding the target. RESULTS: Participants reported a significantly greater desire for social distance from the target with AN compared to targets with obesity or skin cancer, and yet (contrary to Attribution Theory) attributed less blame to the target with AN. There were significant increases in stigmatization towards targets described as blameworthy relative to targets described as non-blameworthy. CONCLUSION: The findings provide insight into the elevated levels of stigmatizing attitudes held towards individuals with AN, and the role of Attribution Theory in partially accounting for this stigma.