Environmental events surrounding natural recovery from obesity

Studying environmental contexts surrounding weight loss without treatment may aid the development of interventions to facilitate the natural forces that support behavior change. Event occurrences surrounding natural recovery from obesity were investigated using formerly obese persons (n = 21) who had lengthy problem histories (4 years minimum) and who had maintained stable weight loss for a mean of 4.5 years. Currently obese persons with similar weight histories served as controls (n = 20). Collaterals verified participants' weight histories and absence of interventions. During structured interviews, event occurrences were assessed over a 4-year period that began before weight loss and continued through the first year of maintenance. Controls recalled events over a comparable interval that equated the groups on the length of recall. Recovery was associated with fewer intimate relations events prior to weight loss and with decreased negative events related to weight, family relations, and social activities after weight loss. Positive events increased during active weight loss. These findings suggest that successful behavior change is a lengthy process that extends beyond active weight loss and is dependent on the surrounding environment.