Psychology Commons^™

Addressing Weight In Primary Care: Perspectives Of African American Young Adults With Serious Mental Illness, Sang Qin, Lindsay Sheehan, Janis Sayer, Kristin S. Williams, Julius Mercer, Ashley Scott, Tevin Anderson

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) experience disproportionate rates of physical illness. Morbidity and mortality are even worse for young African Americans with SMI, especially those who are overweight. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have an important role in addressing weight management. Current research explored these young patient’s perceptions of weight management and how PCPs can best address their weight concerns. Using community-based participatory research, we interviewed 25 African American aged 18-30 who were overweight and had a SMI. Results revealed 1) patient perceptions around weight and 2) patient preferences. Participants identified both positive and negative aspects of being overweight, …

Associations Of Psychological Inflexibility With Exercise Self-Efficacy And Fatigue Severity Among Individuals Seeking Treatment For Weight-Related Behaviors, Kara Manning, Brooke Y. Kauffman, Lorra Garey, Michael J. Zvolensky

Health Behavior Research

Rates of obesity are continuing to rise, contributing to several negative health outcomes and economic burden. Past work suggests that individuals with greater body mass index (BMI) are more likely to report feeling fatigue and are less likely to follow an exercise regimen, which may lead to weight-related problems. Psychological inflexibility, a rigid thinking style in which individuals attempt to over-control psychological reactions to discomfort, may be an underrecognized explanatory factor underlying greater fatigue and lower rates of exercise among individuals with weight-related concerns. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between psychological inflexibility and both …

Guilt By Obesity: A Closer Look At Obesity Stigmas, Loriana Goulding

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Obesity stigmas have led to an increased interest in the body-positivity movement in recent years. However, despite the decreasing discrimination and shaming of the obese, many people still consciously and unconsciously adhere to obesity stigmas and myths. These false beliefs are harmful not only to obese individuals but also to society, given that over 1/3 of the U.S. adult population is now obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). These stigmas can be especially harmful to obese individuals who are victims of wrongdoings and to obese individuals who are accused of a wrongdoing (Yamawaki, Riley, Rasmussen, & Cook, 2018). …

Working Together? A Situational Analysis Of Combining Prevention Efforts Targeting Obesity And Eating Disorders In Schools, Alana Ireland, Shelly Russell-Mayhew

The Qualitative Report

The serious consequences and difficulties with treatment of obesity and eating disorders have prompted many to suggest focusing on prevention. Although most often considered distinct conditions with competing needs, some have advocated for an integrated approach to the prevention of a spectrum of weight-related issues including obesity and eating disorders. Despite a strong rationale for focusing prevention on the spectrum of weight-related issues, tensions exist with regard to whether this is feasible or best practice. The current study used situational analysis to explore the tensions associated with the broader situation of preventing weight-related issues in schools. Semi-structed interviews and document …

Winning In Weight-Loss: The Interaction Of Conscientiousness And Perceived Autonomy, Jason M. Curtis, Marc Lochbaum

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

ABSTRACT

Background

Understanding determinants for weight-loss is a national priority. Obesity is an epidemic with serious health consequences. Most of today’s obesity and overweight problems are being attributed to poor diets and not enough physical activity. These problems show no signs of slowing down with the behaviors of most Americans. The phenomenon of “The Biggest Loser” (different variants of weight-loss programs that consist of group exercise participation and nutrition therapy to elicit weight-loss, and hopefully behavior change) has spawned many variants in commercial health clubs. This prospectus study examined the direct and interactive or moderated effects of known determinants of …

Treatment-Associated Improvements In Self-Regulation And Mood As Theory-Based Correlates Of Increased Self-Efficacy For Weight-Management Behaviors, James J. Annesi

Health Behavior Research

Expanded understanding of the psychosocial dynamics of weight-loss treatment processes is required to improve consistently poor results. Women with obesity of ages 40–59 years participated in self-regulation-based (n = 41) and information-based (n = 46) treatments. Improvements in self-regulation and self-efficacy related to exercise and eating, mood, exercise, intake of fruits/vegetables and sweets, and weight were significant, and generally greater in the self-regulation group. Exercise- and eating-behavior changes significantly mediated the prediction of self-efficacy changes by changes in self-regulation, with mood change significantly adding to the prediction strength. Findings suggested the value in supporting exercise for its psychosocial …

Changing Weight Management Self-Efficacy Among Obese Puerto Rican Adults: A Quantitative Study Using A Health Coaching Intervention, Richard Valentin Ayala, Josh Bernstein

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Obesity and associated healthcare-related issues continue to increase. The prevalence of obesity is on the rise, which has led many health professionals to find ways to improve health interventions. Health coaching can be a viable tool to reduce the obesity epidemic. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of an 8-weekhealth coaching intervention in obese individuals from Puerto Rico and to determine if self-esteem and body image influence weight managementself-efficacy. Method: A pretest-posttest design using a weight management self-efficacy scale helped the researcher evaluate the effectof the coaching sessions. In addition, body image …

Contrasting Adult And Emerging Adult Women On Possible Psychosocial And Behavioral Correlates Of Short-Term Weight Loss, James J. Annesi, Ping H. Johnson

Health Behavior Research

Physical activity could be associated with psychosocial correlates of changes in eating behaviors required for weight loss. This field investigation assessed relationships of physical activity with early changes in psychosocial variables such as depression, fatigue, and body satisfaction; and their effect on fruit/vegetable and sweets intake and weight change. Emerging adult women from a university setting (M_age = 20.4 years, SD = 2.0; n = 36) and adult women from a community health-promotion setting (M_age = 45.6 years, SD = 7.3; n = 36), participating in the same cognitive-behavioral weight-loss program that initiated physical activity prior …

Perceptions Of Obese African American Women Regarding Altering Traditional Soul Food Preparation, Patricia Young

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The obesity epidemic continues to be a major concern in the United States. The World Health Organization reported that 1.4 billion adults were either obese or overweight African American (AA) women have the highest incidence of obesity worldwide. A qualitative descriptive study was used to explore the perceptions of obese AA women about altering how they prepare soul food to make it healthier. The empowerment model and the health belief model were used to frame this study. Data were collected using a nonprobability purposeful sampling strategy. The sample for this study consisted of four focus groups with six to seven …

Modeling Bmi, Dietary Habits, And Physical Activity Among Ethnically Diverse Urban College Students, Hollie Jones, Nicholas Freudenberg, Lorraine Mongiello

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objectives The objective of this research study was to examine the relationship between BMI, physical activity, dietary habits, and student demographic factors (age, ethnicity, income, immigration, and sex). Given the association between overweight and obesity and the inequitable burden of chronic health conditions among ethnic minority populations, a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic, gender, age, and racial/ethnic variation in BMI, physical activity, and dietary habits is needed. The shifting demographics of urban college populations make urban college campuses an important setting for addressing the lifetime health needs of ethnically diverse urban populations.

Methods In this cross-sectional non-experimental study, we used …

Self-Regulatory Skills For Controlled Eating Emanating From Newly Initiated Physical Activity, James J. Annesi Ph.D., Kandice Johnson Porter

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The relationship of physical activity with weight loss may largely be due to its association with psychosocial factors. The goal of this research was to clarify such relationships using a field design lasting 24 weeks. In Study 1, change in self-regulation for controlled eating, but not energy expenditure, mediated the relationship between changes in physical activity and weight in formerly sedentary, severely obese adults (n = 174). In Study 2 (n = 148), the addition of a cognitive-behavioral nutrition treatment was associated with significantly greater improvement in self-regulation for eating. Physical activity-related self-regulation changes were related to those …