How Do Emotions during Goal Pursuit in Weight Change over Time? Retrospective Computational Text Analysis of Goal Setting and Striving Conversations with a Coach during a Mobile Weight Loss Program

Abstract

During behavioral weight management, individuals reflect on their progress and barriers through goal pursuit (goal setting and goal striving). Emotions during goal pursuit are largely unknown, and previous investigations of emotions in weight management have primarily relied on self-report. In this retrospective study, we used a well-validated computational text analysis approach to explore how emotion words changed over time during goal setting and striving conversations with a coach in a mobile weight loss program. Linear mixed models examined changes in emotion words each month from baseline to program end and compared emotion words between individuals who set an overall concrete goal for the program (concrete goal setters) and those who set an overall abstract goal (abstract goal setters). Contrary to findings using self-report, positive emotion words were stable and negative emotion words significantly increased over time. There was a marginal trend towards greater negative emotion word use being associated with greater weight loss. Concrete goal setters used more positive words than abstract goal setters, with no differences in negative emotion words and weight loss. Implications include the possibility that individuals may need increasing support over time for negative emotions expressed during goal setting and striving, and concrete goals could boost positive emotion. Future research should investigate these possibilities.

Predictive capacity of COVID-19-related risk beliefs on weight management behaviors on a commercial weight loss program and speed of COVID-19 vaccination uptake: prospective cohort study

“…Another important point about the time period is that data collection occurred shortly after New Years, which raises the possibility that this was a less motivated or successful sample for long-term weight loss for those focused on New Years resolutions [33]. However, average weight loss for this sample was similar to that of Noom samples who signed up during other parts of the year [34,35]. Still, there could be other potential differences depending on the time period in which this data was collected, so future research should ascertain the extent to which the results of this study generalize to other populations and time periods.…”

Goal language is associated with attrition and weight loss on a digital program: Observational study

“…In contrast, retaining on a weight loss program may not be as closely tied to emotional expression and cognitive processing. In our past work, we found in a sample of individuals who were active, and thus retained, for 16 weeks, negative emotion words significantly increased over time [ 36 ]. This along with the current findings suggest that emotion is not a strong indicator of attrition in this context.…”

“…Goal setting describes setting an initial goal, while goal striving is the process through which goals are pursued. In this retrospective study, we leverage a unique dataset allowing us to examine the words that individuals used in goal setting and goal striving during actual use of a digital program [ 36 ]. We collected the language used in goal setting (i.e., setting their overall goal at the start of the program) and goal striving (i.e., in goal striving conversations with coaches) by users of Noom Weight, a mobile behavior change program.…”

Evidence and consensus-based clinical practice guidelines for management of overweight and obesity in midlife women: An AIIMS-DST initiative

“…Currently, there is a lack of well-designed interventions assessing goal pursuits (goal setting and goal striving) amongst adults participating in weight loss programs. [ 187 ] Furthermore, across weight loss literature, goal setting is considered as an initial step rather than an ongoing process. Goal setting as a process includes finalizing weight loss goals, and reflecting on and receiving feedback from healthcare providers to successfully achieve the initially set goals during the lifestyle modification intervention.…”