Strategies for writing a competitive research abstract.

This article focuses on the process of preparing research abstracts for submission to scientific meetings of professional organizations. Perspectives on the process of specifying an abstract's focus, choosing a scientific meeting, selecting the type of presentation, developing an abstract, and writing an abstract in its form are presented.

Correlates of weight loss and its maintenance over two years of follow-up among middle-aged men.

This paper analyzes demographic, social, psychological, and behavioral correlates of weight loss and maintenance in a group of 89 middle-aged men. Measures were collected before and after a 15-week intervention program and at 3-month and 1-year follow-up evaluations. Associations were examined through 2 years of follow-up observation. Principal findings were (a) a strong inverse relationship between prior participation in an organized weight control program and both short- and long-term weight loss; (b) a positive association between efficacy expectations and weight loss; (c) a positive association between attendance at treatment sessions and weight loss; (d) an inverse relationship between spouse attendance and weight loss; and (e) positive associations between weight loss and perceived social support, reported improvement in eating behavior, reported improvement in exercise behavior, and affirmative response to relapse episodes following treatment.

Behavioral treatment of obesity with monetary contracting: two-year follow-up.

Reported is a 2-year follow-up of a behavioral weight reduction program for men using monetary contracts of varying size and group versus individual contingencies. Although initial weight losses were large, in the absence of an effective maintenance program weight losses at two years were modest, similar to those obtained with less effective initial weight loss procedures. Group contracts were significantly more effective in producing long term loss than individual contracts. Reported behaviors associated with weight loss at 2 years are presented.

Calorie requirements in weight loss: an estimate based on self-reported food intake in middle-aged men.

Twenty-eight men participating in a weight reduction program self-recorded foods eaten and calorie consumption for a 15-week period. These food records were examined to estimate calorie needs during weight loss as a function of age, entry weight, height and physical activity level. Only entry weight was significantly associated with calorie need. A predictive equation for calorie need is offered for setting individual calorie intake goals for patient-assessed calorie intake.