Home Environment A Strong Factor in Weight Management

In that understanding the factors that influence successful weight control is critical for developing interventions, Suzanne Phelan, from California Polytechnic State University (USA), and colleagues surveyed 167 men and women who lost at least 10% of their body weight and kept the weight off for at least 5 years, comparing their data to two other groups of people who were overweight or obese.  The team found that those who lost weight and kept it off were about three to four times more likely to exercise than those who were obese or overweight.  They also were also about 1.4 to 1.6 times more likely to exercise dietary restraint.   Home environment variables, such as fewer televisions, more pieces of exercise equipment, and fewer high-fat foods in the pantry, also factored into successful, long-term weight control.  The researchers urge that:   “Obesity treatment should focus on increasing conscious control over eating, engaging in physical activity, and reducing disinhibition. Changes in the home environment may help facilitate these behavioral changes.”