Spouses of people assigned to lifestyle intervention to lose weight lose 4.8 lbs in one year

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Tuesday, September 09, 2008 12:55 pm Email this article
Spouses of overweight diabetics who were assigned to "intensive lifestyle intervention" lost an average of 4.8 pounds after one year or 2.7 percent of their body weight versus a weight gain of 0.4 pounds or 0.2 percent for spouses of those who were assigned to the usual care of usual care of diabetes support and education according to a new study from researchers at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, USA.

"The reach of behavioral weight loss treatment can extend to a spouse, suggesting that social networks can be utilized to promote the spread of weight loss, thus creating a ripple effect," the researchers concluded. Weight Loss of Participants

Weight loss participants: 21.8 lbs vs 2.6 lbs

The average weight loss of the participants was 21.8 pounds in the lifestyle group versus 2.6 pounds in the usual care group.

 

5% Weight Loss

5% weight loss: 26% of spouses in the lifestyle group vs 9% in the usual care group

Twenty-six percent of spouses of patients in the lifestyle group lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared to 9 percent of spouses in the usual care group.

 

Subjects

Subjects: 357 pairs of spouses

The study involved 357 pairs of participants and spouses.

 

Lifestyle Program

Lifestyle Program: Diet and exercise

The program involved education as well as exercise.

Participants were taught about storing food out of sight.

They were taught how to avoid tempting foods at a party.

The Lifestyle Program encouraged 175 minutes of moderately intense exercise per week.

This is

REFERENCE

Gorin A, Wing R, Fava J, Jakicic J, Jeffery R, West D, Brelje K, Dilillo V. Weight loss treatment influences untreated spouses and the home environment: Evidence of a ripple effect. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008 Sep 2, published early on-line.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. A. A. Gorin
Department of Psychology
Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention
University of Connecticut
2006 Hillside Road, Unit 1248
Storrs, CT, USA
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