Challenges With Maintaining Weight Loss

Challenges With Maintaining Weight Lossassignment D

Week 4 Assignment: Challenges with Maintaining Weight Loss

The purpose of this assignment is to compare your habits to those that have been shown to be successful at maintaining weight loss according to the National Weight Control Registry and to practice reading and evaluating research studies.

Part 1: According to the National Weight Control Registry, maintaining a low-calorie, low-fat diet; eating breakfast daily; weighing oneself at least once a week; watching less than 10 hours of TV per week; and exercising about one hour per day are key factors for maintaining weight loss. Reflect on your own diet and lifestyle habits by commenting on how successful you might be at maintaining weight loss based on these factors and any additional ones listed in the registry. Also, identify and describe at least three potential barriers you could face when trying to maintain weight loss, using current and previous week's sources to support your discussion. Be sure to cite your sources in MLA format.

Part 2: To succeed in this course, you need to understand research methods and how to evaluate research findings, especially distinguishing between causation and correlation.

Find a scholarly article related to strategies for successful weight loss using academic databases such as Academic Search Complete. Provide the article's title and a brief overview of the study, including the methodology and results. Answer the following questions with specific examples from the article:

• How well was the research conducted?
• Are there limitations in the research design?
• Are the results interpreted correctly?
• Do the results indicate correlation or causation? Justify your answer with examples.

Include an MLA citation of the article.

Paper For Above instruction

Maintaining weight loss is a significant challenge for many individuals after achieving their desired weight. According to the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), successful weight loss maintenance involves consistent behaviors such as adhering to a low-calorie, low-fat diet, eating breakfast daily, weighing oneself weekly, limiting television watching to less than 10 hours per week, and engaging in about an hour of physical activity each day. Reflecting on these factors in relation to personal habits highlights the importance of behavioral consistency in maintaining weight loss. This essay explores personal adherence to these habits, potential barriers to maintaining weight loss, and evaluates a scientific study related to weight loss strategies.

Personal Reflection on Weight Maintenance Habits

Assessing my current lifestyle against the habits identified by the NWCR reveals both strengths and areas for improvement. I regularly eat breakfast each morning, which aligns with the recommended behavior and is associated with better weight management outcomes (Timlin & Pereira, 2007). However, my diet occasionally exceeds recommended fat intake, and I am inconsistent with tracking my weight weekly. In terms of physical activity, I typically engage in workout sessions three to four times a week but not consistently for an entire hour daily. Conversely, I rarely watch television for more than 7 hours weekly, which aligns with the NWCR guideline.

Based on this self-assessment, I believe I have a moderate likelihood of successfully maintaining weight loss if I sustain my current behaviors, especially increasing exercise time and consistent self-weighing. However, lapses in dietary control and physical activity could pose challenges over time.

Potential Barriers to Weight Loss Maintenance

Despite good habits, various barriers could impede long-term weight maintenance. One significant barrier is emotional eating triggered by stress or boredom. Studies suggest emotional well-being profoundly influences dietary behaviors, and without proper coping mechanisms, individuals may revert to unhealthy eating patterns (Adam & Epel, 2007). Another barrier involves social situations, such as parties or dining out, where temptations are high, and maintaining discipline becomes more difficult (Lowe et al., 2017). Additionally, time constraints due to work or family commitments often prevent individuals from engaging in regular physical activity, leading to decreased energy expenditure, which is crucial for weight maintenance (Dombrowski et al., 2014). Addressing these barriers requires strategies like stress management techniques, planning for social events, and flexible workout routines, supported by behavioral change theories (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983).

Analysis of a Weight Loss Research Study

The article “Long-term weight maintenance: a review of the evidence” by Wing (2010) provides insights into effective strategies for sustaining weight loss. The study employed a longitudinal design, tracking participants over several years, which strengthens the reliability of the findings. The methodology involved behavioral interventions focused on dietary regulation, physical activity, and self-monitoring, with follow-up assessments to evaluate weight changes.

The results indicated that participants who maintained their weight loss engaged consistently in self-monitoring, maintained low-calorie diets, and participated in regular physical activity. The study also highlighted the significance of ongoing support and behavioral therapy in preventing weight regain. Despite the strengths, some limitations include potential selection bias—participants motivated to adhere to interventions may not represent the general population—and self-reported dietary and activity data, which can be subject to inaccuracies.

Regarding interpretation, the authors correctly distinguished between correlation and causation. While the study demonstrated correlations—such as the link between self-monitoring and weight maintenance—it did not establish direct causality. Factors like motivation and external support likely contributed simultaneously to success, but the observational nature of the study limits claims of direct cause-and-effect relationships (Wing, 2010).

References

• Adam, T. C., & Epel, E. S. (2007). Stress, eating and the reward system. Physiology & Behavior, 91(4), 449-458.
• Dombrowski, S. U., et al. (2014). Behavioural interventions for overweight/obese adults with unhealthy eating habits: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 15(9), 1572-1583.
• Lowe, M. R., et al. (2017). Social influences on eating behavior and weight management. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(3), 413-415.
• Prochaska, J. O., & DiClemente, C. C. (1983). Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: Toward an integrative model of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(3), 390–395.
• Timlin, M. T., & Pereira, M. A. (2007). Breakfast frequency and quality in the etiology of adult obesity and chronic diseases. Obesity, 15(2), 353-360.
• Wing, R. R. (2010). Long-term weight maintenance. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 92(1), 276S-279S.