Problematic Obesity Thoughts: An Attempt to Identify Unsuccessful Dieters Prior to Treatment

Abstract

This paper describes a 21-item cognitive self-statement inventory (Problematic Obesity Thoughts, POT). Before entering a behavioral weight reduction program, the POT was completed by 34 subjects. For the 25 subjects available at the 1 year followup, attempts were made to classify the subjects as successful or unsuccessful dieters (based on the weight loss expressed as percent decrease in pretreatment BMI) using the scores on the POT inventory and four POT subscales. The inventory had a high internal consistency (α = .91). A logistic regression analysis of the total POT score identified 77% of the unsuccessful dieters, but two of the subscales, reflecting self-blame and overeating due to negative mood, respectively, were able to correctly identify 85% of the unsuccessful dieters. Conceivably, after further refinement and cross-validation, the POT might be a valuable part of a multifactorial screening and counceling tool for obesity treatment.