Compliance and Side Effects of Weight Regulation Groups

Data on compliance to instructions to self-monitor food intake, a common component of self-control weight programs, and the side effects of weight loss in terms of both changes in frequency of social behavior and blood pressure were collected during two weight regulation groups. The procedures used in the groups were standard behavioral techniques emphasizing decreasing caloric intake and increasing caloric expenditure. The self-monitoring data indicated good compliance if subjects were specifically trained in self-monitoring, and somewhat poorer compliance if they were simply instructed, but not trained to self-monitor. Effects of weight loss on blood pressure were uniformly positive, with decreases in all subjects including two whose baseline blood pressures were in the hypertensive range. The frequency of social contacts did not show any systematic change during weight loss. It was suggested that decreases in weight will not necessarily increase social interaction, and direct training in social skills may be necessary.