Effects of experimenter versus significant other-controlled reinforcement and choice of target behavior on weight loss

Abstract

Forty-eight overweight women and one man participated in a behavioral weight-reduction program which emphasized stimulus control techniques. The present study was designed to evaluate the relative effectiveness of the basic program and the basic program plus one of four monetary reinforcement conditions: reinforcement by therapist for weight loss, reinforcement by therapist for change in eating behavior, reinforcement by significant other for change in eating behavior. Results, in terms of weight loss, indicated that the basic program was more effective than no treatment, and that the basic program plus monetary reinforcement by a significant other for eating behavior change were more effective than the basic program alone. Also, reinforcement of change in eating behavior was more effective than weight loss as a target behavior. Although significant other as a mediator of reinforcement was not significantly more effective than therapist as mediator, it was suggested that a combination of significant other plus behavior change as the target of reinforcement may be most effective for weight loss.