False and true pre-treatment predictors of weight loss in obese patients starting a program for lifestyle change.

Purpose: Weight loss treatment effectiveness and cost-effectiveness may be improved by the identification of patients who are more prone to participate and gain benefit from specific interventions. Aim of the present study is to identify easily available additional predictors of weight loss among data usually present in the medical records of obese/overweight patients attending an outpatient clinic for a non-pharmacological lifestyle change program.

Results: 268 patients, 74 men and 195 women (age 43.

Fit and motivated: outcome predictors in patients starting a program for lifestyle change.

Background: In previous pilot studies we have demonstrated that the Treatment Motivation and Readiness Test (TRE-MORE) is capable of predicting the outcome of obesity therapy and that a higher muscle mass (MM) is associated with a greater weight loss. Purposes of the present study were: to confirm the predictive value of TRE-MORE scores and MM, using a standardized non-pharmacologic intervention for weight loss; to explore the relationship between TRE-MORE and MM; to discriminate predictors of attendance from predictors of final therapeutic success.

Methods: A consecutive series of 331 patients was enrolled and addressed to a standardized treatment protocol.