Predictors of Successful Weight Control: Cross-Cultural Moderators of Treatment Outcomes
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2007
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Given the heterogeneity of effect sizes within the population for any treatment, identifying moderators of
outcomes is critical [1]. In weight management programs, there is a high individual variability in terms of
weight loss and an overall modest success [2]. Some people will adopt and sustain attitudes and
behaviors associated with weight loss, while others won’t [3]. To predict weight loss outcome just from
the subject’s baseline information would be very valuable [4,5]. It would allow to:
- Better match between treatments and individuals
- Identify the participants with less probability of success (or potential dropouts) in a given treatment
and direct them to alternative therapies
- Target limited resources to those most likely to succeed
- Increase cost-effectiveness and improve success rates of the programs
Few studies have been dedicated to describe baseline predictors of treatment success. The Healthy
Weight for Life (USA) study is one of the few. Its findings are now being cross-validated in Portuguese
samples. This paper describes these cross-cultural comparisons.