Commercial Weight Research Articles

Web-based virtual reality to enhance behavioural skills training and weight loss in a commercial online weight management programme: The Experience Success randomized trial.

SummaryObjectiveCommercial online weight management programmes are popular and easily accessible but often lack training in empirically validated behaviour change strategies and produce suboptimal outcomes. This study evaluated the effects of a Web‐based virtual reality (VR) programme for enhancing behavioural skills training and weight loss when offered as an adjunct to a commercial online weight management programme.Methods N = 146 adults with overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI] 27‐40 kg/m2) were randomized to 6 months of no‐cost access to the Weight Watchers (WW) online platform alone or enhanced with the Experience Success (WW + ES) programme, consisting of four Web‐based VR sessions for training in behavioural weight‐loss skills related to the home environment, the workplace, physical activity and social situations (i.e., a party at a friend's house). Weight was measured at the research centre at baseline, 3 and 6 months.ResultsBoth groups achieved statistically significant weight loss across the trial, with no difference in mean ± standard error (SE) weight loss between WW and WW + ES at 3 months (2.7 ± 1.1 kg vs. 4.2 ± 1.1 kg, respectively; P = .086) but greater weight loss in WW + ES at 6 months (2.6 ± 1.3 kg vs. 4.9 ± 1.3 kg, respectively; P = .042).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the potential of Web‐based VR skills training to enhance outcomes of commercial online weight management programmes that are widely accessible. Compared with traditional didactic methods for online skills training, VR simulation provides opportunities to learn behavioural skills via modelling and experiment with skills in real‐world situations. More research is needed to identify specific behavioural mechanisms by which ES may improve outcomes.

The Structural and Mechanical Properties of the UHMWPE Films Mixed with the PE-Wax.

Since obtaining a highly oriented structure based on a large-scale commercial ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is considered very difficult due to its high molecular weight and melting index, modifying the structure of these cheap commercial UHMWPE brands into a supra-molecular structure with fiber-forming properties by adding a small amount of polyethylene wax (PE-wax) will provide the possibility to obtain highly oriented UHMWPE products with enhanced mechanical and tribological properties. In this work, highly oriented UHMWPE/PE-wax films were prepared. The PE-wax affected the UHMWPE as an intermolecular lubricant. The obtained lamellar structure of the UHMWPE/PE-wax composites had a better processability. The UHMWPE and UHMWPE/PE-wax structures for the xerogels and the films were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The PE-wax presence enhanced the mechanical properties of the UHMWPE/PE-wax films to a high degree. The highest average value of the tensile strength was 1320 MPa (an increase of 78%) obtained by adding a PE-wax content of 1.0 wt.%, and the highest average value of the Young’s modulus was 56.8 GPa (an increase of 71%) obtained by adding a PE-wax content of 2.0 wt.%. The addition of the PE-wax increased the work of fracture values of the UHMWPE/PE-wax films up to 233%. The formation of the cavities was observed in the virgin UHMWPE films more than in the UHMWPE/PE-wax films, and the whitening of the oriented films was related to the crystallization process more than to the cavitation phenomenon. The coefficient of friction of the oriented UHMWPE/PE-wax films improved by 33% in comparison with the isotropic UHMWPE, and by 7% in comparison with the oriented virgin UHMWPE films.

Strategy for Scalable Comb Block Polyolefin Synthesis. Efficient Graft of Isotactic Polypropylene to a Commercial Broad Molecular Weight Distribution, Hyperbranched, Ethylene Methylacrylate Copolymer

Judicious selection and use of a readily available, reactive polyolefin backbone can facilitate scalable comb block construction. This can be further assisted by appropriate grafting chemistry. In ...

Barriers and facilitators to uptake and retention of inner-city ethnically diverse women in a postnatal weight management intervention: a mixed-methods process evaluation within a feasibility trial in England

ObjectivesTo understand the barriers and facilitators to uptake and retention of postnatal women randomised to a commercial group weight management intervention using the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour) behaviour...

Lifestyle information and access to a commercial weight management group to promote maternal postnatal weight management and positive lifestyle behaviour: the SWAN feasibility RCT

BackgroundIncreasing numbers of UK women have overweight or obese body mass index scores when they become pregnant, or gain excessive weight in pregnancy, increasing their risk of adverse outcomes. Failure to manage postnatal weight is linked to smoking, non-healthy dietary choices, lack of regular exercise and poorer longer-term health. Women living in areas of higher social deprivation are more likely to experience weight management problems postnatally.ObjectivesThe objectives were to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of lifestyle information and access to a commercial weight management group focusing on self-monitoring, goal-setting and motivation to achieve dietary change commencing 8–16 weeks postnatally to achieve and maintain weight management and positive lifestyle behaviour.DesignThe design was a randomised two-arm feasibility trial with a nested mixed-methods process evaluation.SettingThe setting was a single centre in an inner city setting in the south of England.ParticipantsParticipants were women with body mass index scores of > 25 kg/m2at antenatal ‘booking’ and women with normal body mass index scores (18.0–24.9 kg/m2) at antenatal booking who developed excessive gestational weight gain as assessed at 36 weeks’ gestation.Main outcome measuresRecruitment, retention, acceptability of trial processes and identification of relevant economic data were the feasibility objectives. The proposed primary outcome was difference between groups in weight at 12 months postnatally, expressed as percentage weight change and weight loss from antenatal booking. Other proposed outcomes included assessment of diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, body image, maternal esteem, mental health, infant feeding and NHS costs.ResultsMost objectives were achieved. A total of 193 women were recruited, 98 allocated to the intervention arm and 95 to the control arm. High follow-up rates (> 80%) were achieved to 12 months. There was an 8.8% difference in weight loss at 12 months between women allocated to the intervention arm and women allocated to the control arm (13.0% vs. 4.2%, respectively;p = 0.062); 47% of women in the intervention arm attended at least one weight management session, with low risk of contamination between arms. The greatest benefit was among women who attended ≥ 10 sessions. Barriers to attending sessions included capability, opportunity and motivation issues. Data collection tools were appropriate to support economic evaluation in a definitive trial, and economic modelling is feasible to quantify resource impacts and outcomes not directly measurable within a trial.LimitationsThe trial recruited from only one site. It was not possible to recruit women with normal body mass index scores who developed excessive pregnancy weight gain.ConclusionsIt was feasible to recruit and retain women with overweight or obese body mass index scores at antenatal booking to a trial comparing postnatal weight management plus standard care with standard care only and collect relevant data to assess outcomes. Approaches to recruit women with normal body mass index scores who gain excessive gestational weight need to be considered. Commercial weight management groups could support women’s weight management as assessed at 12 months postnatally, with probable greater benefit from attending ≥ 10 sessions. Process evaluation findings highlighted the importance of providing more information about the intervention on trial allocation, extended duration of time to commence sessions following birth and extended number of sessions offered to enhance uptake and retention. Results support the conduct of a future randomised controlled trial.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN39186148.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full inPublic Health Research; Vol. 8, No. 9. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

The effects of plant spacing on yield and quality of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) cultivated in organic-oriented farming system on grey soil

Clitoria ternatea L. is a plant species that can be used in food and pharmaceutical industry. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different plant spacing on the productivity and quality of butterfly pea grown on grey soil in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City. Six treatments correspond to plant spacing of 80 x 15 cm, 80 x 20 cm, 80 x 25 cm, 80 x 30 cm, 80 x 35 cm and 80 x 40 cm. The results showed that the highest flower amount (296.8 flowers/plant) was obtained with butterfly pea planted at the spacing of 80 x 15 cm, commercial flower weight (7.86 g/100 flowers), theoretical yield of fresh flower (1,779.0 kg/1,000 m2, actual yield of fresh flower (841.9 kg/1,000 m2), theoretical yield of commercial flower (194.6 kg/1,000 m2 and actual yield of commercial flower (89.0 kg/1,000 m2. Nevertheless, plant spacings did not affect the dry matter ratio, anthocyanin and tannin content in the commercial butterfly flowers

The use of internet sources for nutritional information is linked to weight perception and disordered eating in young adolescents

The internet serves as an accessible and confidential resource for young adolescents seeking nutritional information. However, the quality of information retrieved online is mixed and could have serious implications for users. Young adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight may be disproportionately affected as they are at greater risk for disordered eating. The current study aimed to (1) assess whether the frequency of use of different internet sources to obtain nutritional information differs between healthy weight young adolescents and those with overweight/obesity based on both objective and perceived weight status and (2) evaluate the relationships between different internet sources utilized for nutritional information and disordered eating. Young adolescents (n = 167; 10–15 years) completed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT; total disordered eating), indicated their perceived weight status, and reported how often they obtained nutritional information from the following internet sources: professional websites, personal websites, social media, commercial weight loss websites, and forums. Objective height and weight measurements were obtained. Young adolescents that perceived themselves to be a little overweight or overweight reported greater use of personal websites (p = .012), commercial weight loss websites (p = .011), and social media (p = .019) for nutritional information than those that did not perceive themselves to be a little overweight or overweight. The frequency of use of internet sources for nutritional information did not differ based on objective weight status. Greater use of each of the internet sources for nutritional information was related to greater disordered eating (p's < 0.05). While longitudinal research is needed to further examine these relationships, healthcare providers and teachers should provide young adolescents with guidance for interpreting and using online nutritional information to encourage valid and reliable health recommendations.

Changes in Hunger and Craving in an 8-Week Commercial Weight Loss Program Using a Food Addiction framework

Abstract Objectives Commercial weight loss programs continue to target modifiable obesity risk factors, including physical activity and nutrition. However, the impact of these commercial programs on individuals’ levels of hunger and food cravings has rarely been reported. Given the associations among hunger, food cravings, caloric intake, and long-term adherence to a particular way of eating, it is important to rigorously examine changes in hunger and cravings among participants in these programs. The present study examines changes in hunger and food cravings among participants in Bright Line Eating: Boot Camp (BLE: BC), an 8-week telehealth commercial weight loss program. Methods Data come from 10 weekly surveys (including a program baseline and ending survey) completed by n = 1208 individuals enrolled and completed the BLE: BC program between September 2018 and November 2019. This time-frame was selected as a result of the availability of data on daily levels of hunger and food cravings. We focus on the primary outcome variables of hunger and food cravings measured through weekly self-reported survey data. In addition to examining trends in hunger and cravings over the course of the BLE: BC, we also stratified the primary outcomes by baseline weight status. Results Participants in the present study were predominantly white (93.2%), female (95.6%), and of high socioeconomic status. We used ANOVA tests to examine variation in hunger and food cravings at baseline and change from baseline to program completion. Baseline levels of hunger and food cravings were higher among participants who were at a higher baseline weight status (F = 16.4, P &amp;lt; .001). On average, participants experienced significant reductions in hunger and food cravings from baseline to program completion (P &amp;lt; .001). Participants who began the program at a higher body mass index experienced greater reductions in their levels of hunger and food cravings (F = 13.3, P &amp;lt; .001). Conclusions Changes in hunger and food cravings constitute important components of success in commercial weight loss programs. The present study reports daily self-reported levels of hunger and food cravings for participants enrolled in an 8-week telehealth commercial weight loss program. The results show significant reductions in hunger and cravings among BLE: BC program participants. Funding Sources None to report.

Coping with Weight Stigma Among Adults in a Commercial Weight Management Sample.

Coping responses to weight stigma can adversely affect health. Using data from a large commercial weight management sample, this study examined how adults cope with weight stigma, relationships among experienced weight stigma, weight bias internalization, and coping, as well as coping strategies as mediators of the stigma-health relationship. Participants were adults enrolled in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) who reported at least one lifetime experience of weight stigma (N =11,924). Participants completed questionnaires about the type and frequency of stigma experiences, weight bias internalization, strategies used to cope with weight stigma, and health-related quality of life. Active coping, planning, positive reframing, acceptance, emotional support, and exercise avoidance were the most common coping strategies employed in response to acute weight stigma experiences. Weight bias internalization was more strongly associated with coping strategies likely to exacerbate health (e.g., disordered eating, substance use, self-blame) than positive reframing, acceptance, and emotional support. More types of experienced weight stigma (e.g., teasing, unfair treatment) were associated with more frequent use of all coping strategies. Coping strategies did not mediate the stigma-health relationship, and several strategies were associated with poor mental health. More types of experiences with weight stigma were associated with more attempts to cope generally, while weight bias internalization was associated with coping strategies which were in turn associated with poor mental health. Developing effective approaches for identifying individuals likely to internalize weight stigma and helping individuals adopt effective coping strategies in response to stigma are important avenues of future research.

Examination of a partial dietary self-monitoring approach for behavioral weight management.

SummaryIntroductionDietary self‐monitoring in behavioral weight loss programmes traditionally involves keeping track of all foods and beverages to achieve a calorie deficit. While effective, adherence declines over time. WW™ (formerly Weight Watchers), a widely available commercial weight management programme, sought to pilot an approach that permitted participants to consume over 200 foods without monitoring them.MethodsThe current study used a pre‐post evaluation design with anthropometric, psychosocial and physical health assessments at baseline, 3 and 6 months.ResultsParticipants (N = 152) were, on average, 48.4 (±12.3) years old, with body mass index (BMI) of 32.8 (±4.8) m/kg2 and 94% female. Mean weight loss was 6.97 + 5.55 kg or 7.9 ± 6.1% of initial body weight (ps < .0001) at 6 months. One third (32.6%) of the sample lost 10% or more of initial body weight. Significant improvements in hunger, cravings, happiness, sleep, quality of life, aerobic stamina, flexibility and blood pressure were observed. Attendance at group meetings, as well as decreases in hunger, and fast food cravings from baseline to 3 months were associated with achieving 10% weight loss at 6 months (p < .01).ConclusionsUsing an approach that does not require self‐monitoring of all foods and beverages produced significant weight losses and other physical and psychosocial improvements.

Employees' experiences of participating in a workplace-supported weight management service: a qualitative inquiry

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore public health employees' experiences of participating in a commercial weight management programme supported by their employers over a 12-week period.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 employees who had participated in the programme (group-based or online).FindingsThe main motivators for enquiring about and attending the programme were: the offer to attend the programme free of charge, the opportunity to kick start their weight loss efforts, to take part in an academic research study and the opportunity for “shared experiences” with their colleagues.Research limitations/implicationsThis study did not allow us to explore the reasons why some employees opted not to take up the opportunity for weight management support through their workplace. Further qualitative research with non-engagers would allow us to inquire about why employees might not engage with WM support and offer alternative strategies.Practical implicationsEmployers should facilitate their employees' efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle in the long-term creating employer health and safety policies that actively encourage healthy living and weight management. Improving employee health can contribute to increasing productivity, reducing stress and absenteeism.Originality/valueThis paper presents a novel approach to facilitating employees' weight management. Employees perceived their employer-supported participation in a commercial weight management programme outside of their work setting as a positive experience that assisted their weight management efforts suggesting the acceptability and feasibility of this approach to addressing weight in the workplace.

A Digital Health Weight Loss Program in 250,000 Individuals.

Objective To evaluate whether individuals following a weight loss program based on a mobile application, wireless scale, and nutritional program but no face-to-face care can achieve clinically significant weight loss in a large cohort. Design Retrospective observational analysis. Setting. China from October 2016 to December 2017. Participants. Mobile application users with a minimum of 2 weights (baseline and ≥35 days). Intervention. A commercial (Weijian Technologies) weight loss program consisting of a dietary replacement, self-monitoring using a wireless home scale, and frequent guidance via mobile application. Main Outcome. Mean weight change around 42, 60, 90, and 120 days after program initiation with subgroup analysis by gender, age, and frequency of use. Results 251,718 individuals, with a mean age of 37.3 years (SD: 9.86) (79% female), were included with a mean weight loss of 4.3 kg (CI: ±0.02) and a mean follow-up of 120 days (SD: 76.8 days). Mean weight loss at 42, 60, 90, and 120 d was 4.1 kg (CI: ±0.02), 4.9 kg (CI: ±0.02), 5.6 kg (CI: ±0.03), and 5.4 kg (CI: ±0.04), respectively. At 120 d, 62.7% of participants had lost at least 5% of their initial weight. Both genders and all usage frequency tertiles showed statistically significant weight loss from baseline at each interval (P < 0.001), and this loss was greater in men than in women (120 d: 6.5 vs. 5.2 kg; P < 0.001). The frequency of recording (categorized as high-, medium-, or low-frequency users) was associated with greater weight loss when comparing high, medium, and low tertile use groups at all time intervals investigated (e.g., 120 d: −8.6, −5.6, and −2.2 kg, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions People following a commercially available hybrid weight loss program using a mobile application, wireless scale, and nutritional program without face-to-face interaction on average achieved clinically significant short- and midterm weight loss. These results support the implementation of comparable technologies for weight control in a large population.

Single Arm Trial of a Multi-component Commercial Digital Weight Loss Program

Single Arm Trial of a Multi-component Commercial Digital Weight Loss Program

Retrospective Examination of Class Attendance on Corporately Sponsored Weight Loss Programming: The Naturally Slim Experience.

To examine the effect of class participation in participants enrolled in a corporate sponsored commercial weight loss program. We examined 111,262 participants for percent weight loss (primary outcome) using general linear models and weight loss relative to class participation (secondary outcome). We observed a significant trend (P < 0.001) for achieving significant weight loss for the entire cohort who lost 3.65% (99% CI, 3.62, 3.69) body weight. Individuals taking ≥4 classes (n = 87,346) lost 4.97% (99% CI, 4.53, 4.61). Those taking ≥9 classes (n = 74,525) achieved 4.95% (99% CI, 4.93, 5.01) weight loss. Similar patterns for men and women were observed within each analysis. Overall, participants lost a clinically beneficial (≥3%) amount of weight following class participation and greater class attendance produced a greater weight loss percentage approaching clinical significance (≥5%).

Exploring the influences on men\u2019s engagement with weight loss services: a qualitative study

BackgroundEngagement of men with commercial and UK National Health Service (NHS) weight loss services is low, and few studies report on why this may be. However, evidence shows that men who do participate in weight loss programmes tend to lose as much, or more weight than women. The present study aimed to explore men’s experiences and expectations of mainstream weight loss services in the UK, following referral from a medical professional, particular in relation to barriers and motivators.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 men with a BMI over 25 kg/m2 including those who had, and had not, attended group-based or one-to-one weight loss services. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsTwo themes were identified; 'Fear as a motivation for change' (1) and 'Attitudes towards existing weight loss services' (2). Within theme two, two subthemes were identified; ‘Female dominated services’ and ‘Incompatibility of existing services for men’. The findings suggest that fear, as a result of a medical diagnosis or referral is a mechanism for motivating men to engage with weight loss services. This was often augmented by awareness of other people’s experiences of poor health due to their weight. The gender imbalance and attitudes towards existing weight loss services deterred men from engaging with or continuously attending sessions. This imbalance resulted in feelings of self-consciousness, shame and a perceived stigma for men using weight loss services. These experiences highlighted the importance of providing services which align with men’s preferences to promote engagement.ConclusionsA medical diagnosis or referral serves as a strong motivator for men to engage with weight loss services by invoking fear of negative consequences of not losing weight. Men perceived weight loss services to be feminised spaces, in which they felt self-conscious and out of place. As a result, men were deterred from engaging and considered their options were limited. Implications for service design and commissioning are discussed. Involving men in research, service design and evaluation is key to improving their engagement and weight loss.

Distressed or not distressed? A mixed methods examination of reactions to weight stigma and implications for emotional wellbeing and internalized weight bias.

People react to, and are affected by, stigmatizing experiences in different ways. The current study examined different reactions to weight stigma to identify who may be vulnerable to lasting distress from these experiences. Using a mixed methods approach, this study compared qualitative descriptions of reactions to experiences of weight stigma in conjunction with quantitative measures of weight bias internalization (WBI) and other health indices. Data were collected from September 2017 to August 2018. Participants were U.S. adults enrolled in a commercial weight management program (n = 425, 96% female) who reported previous experiences of weight stigma (on quantitative measures), and who also qualitatively described feeling either no longer distressed (n=178) or still distressed (n=247) by those experiences. Qualitative analyses revealed that participants who were no longer distressed engaged in self-acceptance, were not concerned about other's evaluations of them, and prioritized health rather than appearance. Those who were still distressed from previous weight stigma experiences considered their body weight, and being stigmatized for it, as playing a prominent role in shaping their self-perception, they blamed themselves for experiencing the consequences of weight stigma, and ruminated on their memories of stigmatizing experiences. Hierarchical regressions demonstrated that participants who were still distressed reported greater WBI, greater perceived stress, and poorer mental health than participants who were no longer distressed. When adding WBI to the model predicting perceived stress, differences between participants who were no longer distressed versus still distressed attenuated and became statistically insignificant, suggesting that these qualitative reaction patterns to stigma may be related to participants' level of WBI. Given that some people may experience longer term distress from weight stigma than others, this study can inform interventions aimed to prevent or mitigate the negative consequences associated with being stigmatized.

Stability of fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat from pasture- and grain-fed young bulls during the first 7 d postmortem.

In order to study the effect of different amounts of concentrate feed and the effectiveness of natural antioxidants on the fatty acid stability of intramuscular fat during the first days postmortem, 75 young bulls of the Retinta breed were divided in three groups: 30 were grazed, 30 were fed on medium concentrate diets, and 15 were fed on high-concentrate diets. Young bulls were slaughtered at commercial weight, around a 500 kg final body weight. Samples from Longissimus lumborum muscle were assigned to two ageing periods (0 and 7 d) and were vacuum packaged in vacuum bags ( permeability: 9.3 / per 24 at 0 ) using an EGARVAC sealer. Beef from grass-fed bulls showed a higher polyunsaturated fatty acid content than concentrate-fed bulls. During the first 7 d postmortem, no changes in the fatty acids profile were observed, because -tocopherol content was optimal to prevent lipid oxidation. The higher level of natural antioxidants in grass than in grain resulted in the stability of the fatty acid profile. This study shows that the anti-oxidative potential of natural antioxidants in meat plays an important role during the first 7 d postmortem.

Stability study of Disperse Blue 79 under ionizing radiation

Ionizing radiation is a promising method for dye degradation or textile coloration using commercial azo dyes and small molecular weight organic dyes. Thus, the stability of the molecular structure of an azo dye is important under ionizing radiation. Disperse Blue 79, as an example azo dyes, was irradiated with gamma rays or electron beam (EB) to investigate the radiation-induced effects on the molecular structure. Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra analysis, and mass spectrometry (MS) studies indicated that acetoxy and methoxyl were easily cleaved on the irradiation of the aqueous dye solution but retained a stable structure on the irradiation of the powder form. Gamma rays and EB showed similar effects on the decomposition process. Chromaticity changes using the Lab* method showed that the dye turned to dark yellow and the value of b* of the irradiated dyes increased with the increasing absorbed dose, which indicated that Disperse Blue 79 could be partly decomposed in an aqueous solution with an absorbed dose of 10 kGy. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the chemical stability of the Disperse Blue 79 under ionizing radiation are different in its powder form with the dye in the aqueous solution.

Productive and physiological performance of lettuce cultivars under hydroponic cultivation in the semi-arid region of the Northeast

Lettuce is the most-produced leafy vegetable in Brazil; however, to achieve satisfactory production in the different regions, it is necessary to choose the correct cultivar. The aim of this work was to evaluate the productive and physiological performance of lettuce cultivars in a hydroponic system located in Caucaia, in the state of Ceará. A completely randomised design was used, with four cultivars (Isabela, Vanda, Elba and Summer Crisp) and four replications. The following were evaluated: plant height and diameter (PH and PD), total fresh and dry weight (TFW and TDW), commercial fresh weight (CFW), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthesis (A), ratio between internal and external CO2 concentration (Ci/Ca), and transpiration (E). Differences were seen between cultivars in the production and physiological characteristics, except for Ci and Ci/Ca. The ‘Elba’ and ‘Summer Crisp’ cultivars were the first to show signs of bolting (32 and 36 days) and greater height, 38.7 and 31.8 cm respectively. The ‘Isabela’ and ‘Vanda’ cultivars obtained the greatest values for CFW (43.5 and 41.13 g) and TFW (49.38 and 46.46 g). In relation to physiological performance, the ‘Isabela’ and ‘Summer Crisp’ cultivars presented the most photosynthesis. The ‘Isabela’ cultivar had the best productive and physiological performance, in addition to being the only cultivar that presented no signs of bolting, and is therefore strongly suggested for hydroponic production under the conditions of this study.

Behavioral and Psychological Strategies of Long-Term Weight Loss Maintainers in a Widely Available Weight Management Program.

ObjectiveThe study’s purpose was to use validated questionnaires to identify novel behavioral and psychological strategies among weight loss maintainers (WLMs) in a commercial weight management program.MethodsParticipants were 4,786 WLMs in WW (formerly Weight Watchers, New York, New York) who had maintained weight loss ≥ 9.1 kg (24.7 kg/23.8% weight loss on average) for 3.3 years and had a current mean BMI of 27.6 kg/m2. A control group of 528 weight‐stable individuals with obesity had a mean BMI of 38.9 kg/m2 and weight change < 2.3 kg over the previous 5 years.ResultsWLMs versus Controls practiced more frequent healthy dietary choices (3.3 vs. 1.9; ηp2 = 0.37), self‐monitoring (2.6 vs. 0.7; ηp2 = 0.30), and psychological coping (2.5 vs. 1.1; ηp2 = 0.25) strategies. WLMs also reported more willingness to ignore food cravings (4.4 vs. 3.5; ηp2 = 0.16) and had greater habit strength for healthy eating (5.3 vs. 3.2; ηp2 = 0.21). Standard canonical coefficients indicated that dietary (0.52), self‐monitoring (0.40), and psychological (0.14) strategies as well as habit strength for healthy eating (0.15) contributed independently and most (49.5% of variance) to discriminating groups.ConclusionsIn a widely available weight management program, more frequent practice of healthy dietary, self‐monitoring, and psychological coping strategies as well as development of greater habit strength for healthy eating differentiated long‐term WLMs from weight‐stable individuals with obesity.