Associations among problem-solving, adherence to diet and physical activity goals, and weight loss among individuals participating in weight loss study

Background: Obesity is considered as a significant global public health problem, problem-solving plays an important role in chronic disease management but is not well understood in the management of weight loss. Objective: In a 12-month behavioral weight loss intervention study, we examined whether problem-solving behaviors change over time and the relationships between problem-solving and changes in adherence to calorie, fat and physical activity goals and % weight change. Methods: Measurements were conducted among 150 participants at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Adherence to the calorie/fat goals was calculated as the percentage of days that participants adhered to the daily goals during the 4-week blocks at the three time points. Adherence to the physical activity goals was assessed using accelerometer data and was calculated as (average step count per day/7,500). Linear mixed modeling was used to compare problem-solving across time points and to examine the relationship between problem-solving, changes in adherence to lifestyle goals and % weight change. Results: The sample (N=150) was mostly female (90.7%) and white (80.7%) with a mean body mass index of 34.08 + 4.58 kg/m2. Problem-solving did not significantly change over 12 months (b = -0.305, p =0.79). With all potential predictors in the model, baseline problem-solving (b = -0.001, p =0.04) and changes in adherence to the fat goal (b = -0.123, p <0.01) and physical activity goal (b = -0.041, p