Kelly Webber

Motivation and Its Relationship to Adherence to Self-Monitoring and Weight Loss in a 16-Week Internet Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention

OBJECTIVE To examine changes in motivation and the relationship of motivation to adherence to self-monitoring and weight loss in a 16-week Internet behavioral weight-loss intervention. DESIGN Two-group randomized design. SETTING This study was conducted over the Internet. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-six women, ages 22-65, with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40, and with a home computer with Internet access, participated. INTERVENTION These data are from an Internet behavioral weight-loss program in which all participants received a face-to-face initial session followed by the 16-week Internet program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Adherence to self-monitoring and weight loss were the main outcome measures. ANALYSIS Linear regression and mediation analysis using the Baron and Kenny method were conducted. RESULTS Autonomous motivation increased initially and remained high for those who ultimately achieved a 5% weight loss, but declined over time for participants who did not achieve a 5% weight loss. Autonomous motivation at 4 weeks was a predictor of adherence to self-monitoring and 16-week weight loss. Adherence mediated the relationship between autonomous motivation and weight loss. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that autonomous motivation may be a promising intervention target for promoting program procedure adherence and weight loss.

Motivational Interviewing in Internet Groups: A Pilot Study for Weight Loss

Motivational interviewing is a technique for developing and maintaining motivation. This pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of motivational interviewing in online weight-loss treatment groups. Twenty women participated in the 8-week minimal contact intervention, received weekly e-mailed lessons, and were randomized to two online groups using motivational interviewing, either with or without a discussion of values. Acceptability of format and content was measured following the second online group. Self-reported weight and motivation were measured at baseline and 8 weeks. Qualitative analysis of group transcripts examined self-motivational statements uttered by participants during online groups. Eighty-four percent of participants reported willingness to participate again and were comfortable with the discussion topics. The average number of self-motivational statements uttered by participants did not differ by group (P=0.85) and was correlated with an increase in autonomous motivation during the 8 weeks (r=0.58, P=0.05). Higher autonomous motivation at follow-up was associated with greater weight loss (r=0.51, P<0.05). This study suggests that motivational interviewing techniques are acceptable and may be useful for targeting and maintaining motivation in online weight-loss groups.

A Pilot Internet-Based Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention with or without Commercially Available Portion-Controlled Foods

Objective: To evaluate the short‐term impact of portion‐controlled food provision in combination with an Internet behavioral weight loss program on weight, blood cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.

A Community-Based Marketing Campaign at Farmers Markets to Encourage Fruit and Vegetable Purchases in Rural Counties With High Rates of Obesity, Kentucky, 2015–2016

Availability of farmers markets may increase fruit and vegetable consumption among rural residents of the United States. We conducted a community-based marketing campaign, Plate it Up Kentucky Proud (PIUKP), in 6 rural communities over 2 years to determine the association between exposure to the campaign and fruit and vegetable purchases, adjusted for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipient status. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of the PIUKP campaign influencing purchases. Awareness of the PIUKP marketing campaign was significantly associated with a willingness to prepare fruits and vegetables at home. Using marketing strategies at farmers markets may be an effective way to improve fruit and vegetable purchases in rural communities.