Open AccessObesity Level and Attrition: Support for Patient‐Treatment Matching in Obesity Treatment
Author(s) -
Clark Matthew M.,
Guise Barrie J.,
Niaura Raymond S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1002/j.1550-8528.1995.tb00122.x
Subject(s) - attrition , obesity , medicine , severe obesity , physical therapy , matching (statistics) , weight loss , dentistry , pathology
Obesity treatment studies report attrition rates front 20% to 45%. To reduce attrition, researchers have proposed matching patients to treatment based upon level of obesity. The current study attempted to validate the commonly held assumption that a mismatch between obesity level and treatment will promote attrition. The level of obesity and attrition rates of 39 adults who enrolled in a 12‐session behavior therapy program were examined. As obesity level increased, so did attrition. Sixty‐nine percent of subjects with mild obesity, 43% of subjects with moderate obesity and 0% of subjects with severe obesity completed treatment.