Individual versus partner consequation for weight loss

Abstract

This study compared the weight loss of overweight partners with individuals without partners in a 6-week behavioral weight reduction program. In the partner consequation group, cooperation between partners was financially consequated. The individual consequation group included both pairs of friends and individuals without partners, but only individual performance was consequated. At post-treatment, both the individual and partner consequation groups were superior to a minimal treatment control group. However, in contrast to the individual group, the partner consequation group had returned to pretreatment weight at the 6-month follow-up. Observations indicated that partners socially reinforced each other for deviating from newly learned eating patterns.