Publications by authors named "Melissa L Stansbury"

Background: Behavioral weight loss programs often prescribe physical activity (PA) goals in terms of minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and steps/day. However, the impact of meeting each type of goal prescription on weight loss is unclear, particularly in digitally-based (eHealth/mHealth) programs. This secondary analysis of a randomized trial examined the effects of meeting steps-based and minutes-based goals on weight loss in an eHealth behavioral weight control program.

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Objective: Weight control programs that incorporate group sessions produce greater weight losses, but this has not been explored in the context of online programs. Further, counselor-crafted self-monitoring feedback is a core element of lifestyle interventions, although pre-scripted, modular feedback which does not require detailed counselor review may adequately promote weight loss. The current study explored the weight losses achieved in an online program that included facilitated group sessions, as well as outcomes when counselor-crafted self-monitoring feedback was provided.

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Objective: Dietary self-monitoring is consistently related to both short- and long-term weight loss, but typically declines over time. Adopting an abbreviated approach to self-monitoring might reduce burden and potentially increase engagement while maintaining efficacy.

Methods: Using a Delphi-type study, experts were queried about abbreviated self-monitoring approaches that might best balance efficacy and burden and asked to identify when these approaches might best be implemented within a behavioral weight loss program.

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Objective: To comprehensively assess the extent to which the decline in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with age differs between sexes.

Participants And Methods: This study used data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, conducted between September 1974 and August 2006, consisting primarily of White adults from middle-to-upper socioeconomic strata restricted to adults without type 2 diabetes mellitus (33,742 men and 9,415 women). Quantile regression models were used to estimate the differences in age-associated changes in CRF between the sexes, estimated using a maximal treadmill test.

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Background: Standard behavioral weight loss interventions often set uniform physical activity (PA) goals and promote PA self-monitoring; however, adherence remains a challenge, and recommendations may not accommodate all individuals. Identifying patterns of PA goal attainment and self-monitoring behavior will offer a deeper understanding of how individuals adhere to different types of commonly prescribed PA recommendations (ie, minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] and daily steps) and guide future recommendations for improved intervention effectiveness.

Objective: This study examined weekly patterns of adherence to step-based and minute-based PA goals and self-monitoring behavior during a 6-month online behavioral weight loss intervention.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study tested a financial incentive scheme for weight loss over 18 months, comparing an online program with and without incentives for goal-oriented behaviors like self-weighing and dietary tracking.
  • Participants receiving financial incentives lost significantly more weight initially and were better at maintaining their weight loss during the first year.
  • However, without continued financial support, both groups did not show sustained weight control, indicating that incentives alone are not effective long-term.
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Physical activity (PA) goal adherence is consistently associated with greater weight loss during behavioral obesity treatment, and early weight loss response predicts future weight loss success. However, it remains unclear which behaviors during the initial weeks of treatment distinguish responders from nonresponders and might be effective targets for improving treatment outcomes. To characterize subgroups with distinct patterns of PA goal adherence during the initial 2 months of an online, group-based weight control program and determine associations between these patterns and 6-month weight loss.

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Article Synopsis
  • Internet-delivered behavioral weight control programs generally achieve lower weight losses than in-person ones, but financial incentives may enhance outcomes.
  • A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involved 418 adults with overweight or obesity, comparing a standard online weight management program with an incentivized version that provided rewards for self-monitoring and weight loss achievements.
  • Results showed that participants who received financial incentives lost more weight and engaged more actively in the program, highlighting the potential benefits of incorporating incentives into online weight management strategies.
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