Setting targets leads to greater long-term weight losses and 'unrealistic' targets increase the effect in a large community-based commercial weight management group

• Published in: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics 2016-12, Vol.29 (6), p.687-696
• Main Authors: Avery, A., Langley-Evans, S. C., Harrington, M., Swift, J. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Community Health Services - methods; community weight loss; Female; Goal setting; Goals; Group Processes; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - psychology; Obesity - therapy; setting targets/goals; United Kingdom; Weight and Health; Weight control; Weight Loss; Weight Reduction Programs - methods
• ISSN: 0952-3871; 1365-277X
• DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12390

Background Setting personal targets is an important behavioural component in weight management programmes. Normal practice is to encourage ‘realistic’ weight loss, although the underlying evidence base for this is limited and controversial. The present study investigates the effect of number and size of weight‐loss targets on long‐term weight loss in a large community sample of adults. Methods Weight change, attendance and target weight data for all new UK members, joining from January to March 2012, were extracted from a commercial slimming organisation's electronic database. Results Of the 35 380 members who had weight data available at 12 months after joining, 69.1% (n = 24 447) had a starting body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg m–2. Their mean (SD) weight loss was 12.9% (7.8%) and, for both sexes, weight loss at 12 months was greater for those who set targets (P