Original Article

International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, 1678–1684; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.150; published online 2 September 2008

Weight loss treatment influences untreated spouses and the home environment: evidence of a ripple effect

A A Gorin1, R R Wing2, J L Fava3, J M Jakicic4, R Jeffery5, D S West6, K Brelje7 and V G DiLillo8 and the Look AHEAD Home Environment Research Group

  1. 1Department of Psychology, Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
  2. 2Department of Psychiatry, Brown Medical School, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
  3. 3The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
  4. 4Department of Health and Physical Activity, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
  5. 5Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  6. 6Fay W Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
  7. 7Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  8. 8Department of Psychology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, USA

Correspondence: Dr AA Gorin, Department of Psychology, Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention, University of Connecticut, 2006 Hillside Road, Unit 1248, Storrs, CT, USA. E-mail: amy.gorin@uconn.edu

Received 16 April 2008; Revised 21 June 2008; Accepted 21 July 2008; Published online 2 September 2008.

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Abstract

Objectives:

 

To examine whether a weight loss program delivered to one spouse has beneficial effects on the untreated spouse and the home environment.

Methods:

 

We assessed untreated spouses of participants in three sites of Look AHEAD, a multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of intentional weight loss on cardiovascular outcomes in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes. Participants and spouses (n=357 pairs) were weighed and completed measures of diet and physical activity at 0 and 12 months. Spouses completed household food and exercise environment inventories. We examined differences between spouses of participants assigned to the intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) or to the enhanced usual care (DSE; diabetes support and education).

Results:

 

Spouses of ILI participants lost -2.2plusminus4.5 kg vs -0.2plusminus3.3 kg in spouses of DSE participants (P<0.001). In addition, more ILI spouses lost greater than or equal to5% of their body weight than DSE spouses (26 vs 9%, P<0.001). Spouses of ILI participants also had greater reductions in reported energy intake (P=0.007) and percent of energy from fat (P=0.012) than DSE spouses. Spouse weight loss was associated with participant weight loss (P<0.001) and decreases in high-fat foods in the home (P=0.05).

Conclusion:

 

The reach of behavioral weight loss treatment can extend to a spouse, suggesting that social networks can be utilized to promote the spread of weight loss, thus creating a ripple effect.

Keywords:

weight loss, ripple effect, social network, home environment

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