"I see inspiration everywhere": potential keys to nurturing healthy obsessions by very successful young weight controllers

• Published in: Childhood obesity 2014-12, Vol.10 (6), p.518-532
• Main Authors: Caraher, Kristen J, Kirschenbaum, Daniel S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aspirations (Psychology); Cognitive Therapy; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Models, Psychological; Motivation; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - prevention & control; Obesity - psychology; Obsessive Behavior - psychology; Peer Group; Qualitative Research; Social Environment; Social Support; Weight Gain; Weight Loss; Weight Reduction Programs
• ISSN: 2153-2168; 2153-2176
• DOI: 10.1089/chi.2014.0001

The Healthy Obsession Model posits that committed weight controllers develop preoccupations with the planning and execution of target behaviors to reach healthy goals. We expected that successful weight controllers, more so than unsuccessful weight controllers, would report more elaborate definitions of their healthy obsessions, negative reactions to lapses, and constructive responses to high-risk situations. We also expected to find differential sources of commitment between losers and gainers, including a greater emphasis on emotional and experiential consequences by losers, as documented in the authors' 2012 study. Sixteen adolescent participants who had completed cognitive-behavior therapy immersion treatment for obesity at least 1 year before the interviews (8 successful and 8 unsuccessful weight controllers) completed in-depth interviews based on the Scanlan Collaborative Interview Method. A qualitative analysis followed in which two coders identified themes within the interviews. Reliable coding of the interviews produced results that supported the hypothesis that highly successful weight controllers nurture strong healthy obsessions. Successful weight controllers also reported using significantly more helpful motivators than did unsuccessful weight controllers. In addition, these adolescent weight controllers seemed motivated by some of the same factors that elite athletes identified in the Sport Commitment Model. Clinical implications include focusing weight loss interventions on nurturing healthy obsessions in general and, more specifically, on helping weight controllers use more diverse sources of commitment.