Causal attributions of obese men and women in genetic testing: implications of genetic/biological attributions.

The present study sought to investigate genetic/biological attributions of obesity, their associations with a predisposition to obesity and their crossectional and longitudinal implications for weight regulation in obese individuals presenting for genetic testing and counselling. A total of 421 obese men and women underwent psychological and anthropometric assessment and a mutation screen of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene. At study entry, women revealed more genetic/biological attributions than men on the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire adapted to obesity (86.

A consultation with genetic information about obesity decreases self-blame about eating and leads to realistic weight loss goals in obese individuals.

Objective: This study tested the effects of a consultation using genetic information about obesity on attitudes relating to weight loss goals, self-blame about eating, and weight-related coping in obese individuals. Furthermore, the study sought to explore possible predictors for weight gain/loss.

Method: A total of 411 obese individuals were randomly assigned to two standardized consultations, with and without genetic information about obesity, and a control group without any intervention.

Who copes well? Obesity-related coping and its associations with shame, guilt, and weight loss.

The relationship among weight-related coping, guilt, and shame was investigated in a sample of 98 obese German individuals over a 6-month period. In terms of the objectives, the study explored the kind and frequency of typical coping situations in which obese individuals become aware of being obese. Furthermore, the study sought to determine the predictive utility of weight-related shame and guilt concerning coping responses, and to establish whether there is an association between coping responses and weight change.

Is information on genetic determinants of obesity helpful or harmful for obese people?--A randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objectives: Although more and more genetic information is available, it is unclear whether this information is helpful for patients. Therefore, we assessed the positive and negative effects of informing obese people about the genetic etiology of being overweight.

Design, Participants: Two hundred ninety-four obese people were randomized to 2 interventions (a 1-session consultation for obese people on how to manage obesity either including genetic information or not); their results were compared to a control group (116).

Development of the Weight- and Body-Related Shame and Guilt scale (WEB-SG) in a nonclinical sample of obese individuals.

In this article, we present the evaluation of the psychometric properties of a new self-report measure of Weight- and Body-Related Shame and Guilt (WEB-SG). The main purpose of the study was to measure shame and guilt feelings separately in obese individuals and investigate differing behavioral and emotional correlates of these emotions. Altogether, 331 obese participants completed the WEB-SG and other established self-report measures.