Behavioral approaches to weight control: An updated review

The Issue of Aversion in Lifestyle Treatments

“…Similar to smoking cessation, a substantial body of research was conducted using aversive therapy in obesity. 10,33 While a variety of aversive stimuli have been used, [13][14][15][16]22,24,25,34 the following example 24 illustrates the general procedure of using a noxious odor as the aversive stimulus. Subjects were presented with the scent of a desirable food that led to overeating behavior (eg, the smell from a dessert being baked).…”

Treatment strategies for therapists conducting weight control programs.

“…At this time the most successful weight control programs have been conducted primarily from a behavioral orientation (see Abrahms & Allen, 1974;Abramson, 1973Abramson, , 1977Bellack, 1975;Leon, 1976;Romanczyk, et al, 1973;Stuart, 1971;Wollersheim, 1970). Horan et al (1975) reported nearly 100% effectiveness (loss of greater than 1 pound per week) by applying Homme's positive coverants during group counseling.…”

“…Self-monitoring itself has been studied as a specific weight control technique. For example, Fowler (cited by Abramson, 1977) has created "the mouthful diet" in which the client records every mouthful of food and caloric liquid consumed. The number of mouthfuls per day is then gradually reduced from baseline levels.…”

“…Most of the behaviorally based research programs on weight loss have stressed the importance of developing self-control techniques in subjects (cf., Abramson, 1977;Mahoney & Jeffrey, 1974;Polly et al, 1976;Wollersheim, 1970). It is assumed that acquiring self-control skills will enable clients to continue and then to maintain weight loss on their own without further therapist contact.…”

“…Many people, primarily females, join weight control programs which, according to the clinical and research reports, are often successful, at least temporarily. The weight control literature persuasively documents the effectiveness of behavioral approaches (Abramson, 1973(Abramson, , 1977Bellack, 1975;Stunkard & Mahoney, 1975), even for very abbreviated counseling regimens {e.g., Thorn & Boudewyns, 1976).…”