Shifting gears: self-reported attitudes and behaviors during times of weight loss, maintenance, and gain.

One hundred and eleven respondents who had achieved at least a 15-pound (6.80 kg) weight loss in a 20-week cognitive-behavioral treatment program for obesity were asked 6 to 10 years after treatment to describe their current use of cognitive and behavioral activities during periods of weight maintenance, loss, and gain. Eleven scales were constructed to measure the self-reported frequency with which the cognitive and behavioral efforts were extended for Weight Monitoring; Food Record Monitoring; Calorie Counting; Shopping; Food Storage and Preparation; Meal Times; Snack Times; Social Occasions; Taste and Satisfaction; Physical Activity; and Sports/Exercise. A multivariate repeated-analysis of variance indicated that the respondents increased the mean frequencies with which all 11 of the cognitive and behavioral efforts were used during times of weight loss; these mean frequencies decreased during times of maintenance and decreased still further during times of weight gain. The conclusion was drawn that the respondents were able to differentiate among the types of attitudes and behaviors that they used during times of gain, maintenance, and loss.