Analysis of Changes in Eating Behavior and Weight Loss in Type II Diabetic Patients: Which Behaviors to Change

To identify the behavior-change strategies that are most clearly related to weight loss, 106 patients with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes completed the Eating Behavior Inventory (EBI) before and after participating in a behavioral weight-loss program and at 1-yr follow-up. The EBI is a standardized questionnaire that assesses behavioral strategies typically taught in a behavioral weight-loss program. Pretreatment scores on the EBI were not related to weight-loss outcome, but changes on the EBI in the direction of more frequent use of appropriate strategies were related to weight loss at both posttreatment and 1-yr follow-up. Specific strategies related to weight loss at both times were 7) eating foods that help in losing weight, 2) recording foods eaten, 3) refusing food offered by others, and 4) being able to stop eating when appropriate. However, few patients maintained frequent use of these strategies at follow-up. It is concluded that weight-loss programs should focus on the strategies most strongly related to weight loss and try to improve long-term use of these techniques.