Self-control as measured by delay discounting is greater among successful weight losers than controls

Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Warren K BickelRena Wing

Abstract

Long-term weight loss maintenance is likely to require strong self-control in order to sustain changes in behavior patterns. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that those who have successfully maintained weight loss may have superior self-control compared to control participants. Self-control was assessed using a delay discounting task through a webbased assessment of members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR: N = 757; non-obese = 605; obese = 152) and control participants (Control N = 443; nonobese = 236; obese = 207) from Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Both NWCR members that were currently obese (t = 5.42, p < 0.001) and nonobese (t = 5.28, p < 0.001) discounted the future less than control participants with comparable weight statuses. These results are indicative of higher levels of self-control behaviors in individuals that have lost and successfully maintained weight loss. Thus, successful weight losers may exhibit stronger self-control, as measured through discounting of future rewards, However, further research is needed to determine whether strong selfcontrol enables individuals to succeed at weight loss maintenance or develops as a consequence.

References

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Citations

Aug 9, 2019·Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association·K P MadsenI Willaing
Apr 25, 2020·Nutrients·Sophia FürtjesStefan Ehrlich
Jul 19, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Ming-Qiang XiangMin Hu
Feb 13, 2020·Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·Catarina PaixãoInês Santos
Aug 7, 2021·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Warren K BickelLeonard H Epstein

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