Effects of a novel bites, steps and eating rate-focused weight loss randomised controlled trial intervention on body weight and eating behaviours.

BACKGROUND: Eating rate (ER), comprising the amount of food consumed per unit of time, is associated with obesity and energy intake (EI). METHODS: The present study tested whether adding a self-monitoring wearable device to a multifaceted 8-week weight loss intervention increased weight loss. In addition, the device's effect on secondary change outcomes in EI, ER and estimated energy expenditure was explored. Tertiary outcomes included examining eating behaviours measured by the Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire (WREQ). Seventy-two adults who were overweight or obese [mean (SD) age, 37.7 (15.3) years; body mass index, 31.3 (3.2) kg m-2 ] were randomised into two groups: intervention workbook plus device (WD) or intervention workbook only (WO). Three 24-h dietary recalls were obtained before weeks 0 and 8. Participants were weighed, consumed a test meal and completed 7-day Physical Activity Recall and WREQ at weeks 0 and 8. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between WD and WO groups with respect to weight change [-0.46 (1.11) vs. 0.26 (0.82) kg, respectively], ER, EI, energy expenditure or WREQ scores, although there were significant changes over time, and within-group changes on all of these variables. At week 8, participants were dichotomised into weight loss or weight stable/gainers groups. A significant time by group change was seen in susceptibility to external cues scores, with significant time effects for susceptibility and restraint. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention focused on reducing ER, energy density and increasing steps was effective for weight loss, although the wearable device provided no additional benefit. Participants with higher susceptibility to external eating may be more responsive to this intervention.

Predictors of relapse among smokers: transtheoretical effort variables, demographics, and smoking severity.

The present longitudinal study investigates baseline assessments of static and dynamic variables, including demographic characteristics, smoking severity, and Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (TTM) effort variables (Decisional Balance (i.e. Pros and Cons), Situational Temptations, and Processes of Change) of relapse among individuals who were abstinent at 12months. The study sample (N=521) was derived from an integrated dataset of four population-based smoking cessation interventions. Several key findings included: Participants who were aged 25-44 and 45-64 (OR=.43, p=.01 and OR=.40, p=.01, respectively) compared to being aged 18-24 were less likely to relapse at follow-up. Participants in the control group were more than twice as likely to relapse (OR=2.17, p=.00) at follow-up compared to participants in the treatment group. Participants who reported higher Habit Strength scores were more likely to relapse (OR=1.05, p=.02). Participants who had higher scores of Reinforcement Management (OR=1.05, p=.04) and Self-Reevaluation (OR=1.08, p=.01) were more likely to relapse. Findings add to one assumption that relapsers tend to relapse not solely due to smoking addiction severity, but due to immediate precursor factors such as emotional distress. One approach would be to provide additional expert guidance on how smokers can manage stress effectively when they enroll in treatment at any stage of change.

Exercise intensity and self-efficacy effects on anxiety reduction in healthy, older adults.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of varying exercise intensities and changes in self-efficacy on anxiety reduction in a sample of healthy, older adults. Eighty older adults from a randomized controlled exercise trial participated in this study and completed measures of self-efficacy and the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) prior to and following light-, moderate-, and high-intensity exercise. Latent growth curve modeling analyses revealed that although anxiety was reduced following the light-intensity condition, no significant changes in anxiety occurred following the moderate-intensity condition, and anxiety increased following the high-intensity condition. In addition, changes in self-efficacy were related to anxiety responses only in the moderate-intensity condition. An analysis of SAI items indicated that although the light-intensity condition resulted in decreased arousal and anxiousness, the high-intensity condition resulted in increased arousal and decreased anxiousness. These results are discussed in terms of social cognitive theory and the appropriateness of the SAI for use in exercise settings.