Behavioral Weight Management

Psychological Treatments (Chambless)

  • Basic premise: Eating and activity behaviors are reinforced by cues and consequences that can be internal (e.g., thoughts and feelings) or external (e.g., environment, behaviors). Selectively modifying these internal and external factors can facilitate positive changes in diet and exercise. In addition, providing measurable goals and methods to monitor progress towards such goals can promote behavior change.
  • Essence of therapy: Weight loss requires expending more energy than one is taking in. For most, this involves altering both eating and exercise habits. The treatment is designed to help individuals decrease energy intake and increase energy expenditure by providing clear eating and exercise goals, and ways to monitor these behaviors. Self-monitoring enhances awareness of health behaviors, thus making them more susceptible to change. The treatment also includes modifying the cues and consequences that control eating and activity behaviors.
  • Length: 25-44 sessions

Other Treatment Resources

Meta-analyses and Systematic Reviews

Clinical Trials

Books Available for Purchase Through External Sites

Measures, Handouts and Worksheets

Treatment Manuals

Related Diagnosis

Eating Disorders and Weight Management

EST Status

N/A

2015 EST Status

Treatment pending re-evaluation

1998 EST Status

Strong

All Treatments