EXAMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERSONAL VALUES, LIFESTYLE FACTORS, AND WEIGHT LOSS IN A BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM

Individual level values have been suggested as a construct that may influence motivation and adherence to health behavior change. There has been limited research conducted to examine values within the context of a behavioral weight loss intervention to treat overweight and obesity. \ud PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the perception of how engagement in a weight loss intervention would influence values and actual change in weight and weight loss-related behaviors (eating and physical activity). \ud METHODS: Data utilized within the analyses were from participants enrolled in a 6-month behavioral weight loss intervention. Baseline data were available on 67 participants (age = 44.2±9.0 years; body mass index [BMI] = 32.6±3.9 kg/m2) with 58 subjects providing data on values at 6 months (age = 43.9±9.2 years; BMI = 32.6±4.0 kg/m2). Objective measures were taken at baseline and 6 months for body weight and BMI, with questionnaires used to assess values, perceived impact that engaging in a weight loss intervention would have on values, dietary intake (kcal/day), eating behaviors for weight loss, and physical activity (kcal/week). \ud RESULTS: Marriage/couples/intimate relationships, family, and parenting were the three highest ranked values at both baseline and 6 months, suggesting that values remained relatively stable over the course of the weight loss intervention. There was no significant relationship between participant’s perception of the impact that engaging in a weight loss intervention would have on their values (measured at baseline and 6 months) and their actual changes in body weight, and related eating and physical activity behaviors. \ud DISCUSSION: This study found no significant association between either weight loss or weight loss related behaviors (eating, physical activity) and perception of how these efforts impacted values of participants. These findings are not consistent with theories that have suggested that values can be important to elicit health behavior changes. However, these findings do not indicate that values-based interventions will not be effective for weight loss because values were not specifically targeted within the intervention. Therefore, additional research is needed to understand how values may influence health-behavior change, specifically within the context of a weight loss intervention. \u