Body dissatisfaction predicts poor behavioral weight loss treatment adherence in overweight Mexican American women

- Poor adherence poses a major barrier to behavioral weight loss programs.
- Ninety-nine overweight/obese Mexican American women were in a weight loss program.
- Higher baseline body dissatisfaction and depression predicted poorer attendance.
- Higher baseline body dissatisfaction predicted poorer treatment adherence.
- Weight loss programs should address extreme body dissatisfaction early in treatment.

Poor adherence poses a major barrier to the success of behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs, particularly for overweight Mexican American women. Given the high prevalence and costs of overweight/obesity, factors that contribute to attendance and adherence problems should be identified, especially in ethnic minority populations. The current study examined the role of pre-treatment body dissatisfaction and depression in predicting attendance and adherence in a BWL intervention. Ninety-nine overweight/obese Mexican American women enrolled in the intervention and completed baseline measures. Eighty-one of the women attended at least one treatment session and provided measures of dietary and physical activity adherence. Simultaneous linear regression analyses suggested that although higher levels of body dissatisfaction and depression each played unique roles in predicting poorer attendance, only body dissatisfaction predicted adherence. Specifically, higher body dissatisfaction predicted poorer treatment adherence. Findings highlight the importance of addressing body dissatisfaction early in BWL treatment to increase attendance and adherence.