FOLLOW-UP OF EFFECTS OF CHOICE OF MEDIATOR AND TARGET OF REINFORCEMENT ON WEIGHT-LOSS

This study reports differential maintenance of weight loss at 3 and 12 months following the end of treatment effects reported in an earlier study. Clients orginally assigned to either a basic stimulus control treatment condition or the basic program plus one of four reinforcement conditions: reinforcement by therapist for weight loss, reinforcement by therapist for change in eating behavior, reinforcement by a significant other for weight loss, or reinforcement by a significant other for eating behavior change returned for weigh-ins at these times. Results indicated the importance of appropriate target (eating behavior change) and mediator (significant other) for maintenance of weight loss. Reinforcement by a significant other for eating behavior change produced the most persistent loss of weight. © 1979 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy.