The use of commitment techniques to support weight loss maintenance in obese adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: Obesity is a rising problem in adolescents related to unhealthy behaviours. Commitment devises are one type of behavioural intervention that may help people change their behaviours. The current pilot trial tests whether commitment devices delivered via text message help adolescents maintain their recent weight loss.

Methods: During a 12-week pilot trial, adolescents who attended a weight loss camp were randomly assigned to either received text messages that contained only information, i.e. advice, about weight loss management (n = 13) or asked for them to commit to following the same advise (n = 14).

Results: The BMI of the adolescents in the commitment group did not change. In contrast, the BMI of adolescents in the information group increased. A linear regression revealed that group was a significant predictor of BMI change. A logistic regression revealed that adolescents in the information group were nearly eight times more likely to regain weight than those in the commitment group.

Conclusions: This is the first study with adolescents to show weight maintenance using a commitment device. The results suggest that commitment devices can help adolescents maintain their recent weight loss.

Keywords:

• Nudge
• commitment device
• weight maintenance
• adolescents

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Commitment devices affect behaviour through a two-step process. In step one, the commitment device itself nudges individuals to commit to changing their behaviour, e.g. eating. In step two, the commitment itself then (often subconsciously and automatically) affects what the person decides to do, e.g. eat less. The commitment itself is generally not considered a nudge (at least in a narrow sense of the term), but the device that evokes the commitment can be. In accordance with the operational definition of nudge in the literature, to be considered a nudge, the commitment device should be present in the environment the behaviour is expected, require minimal conscious engagement, able to influence many people simultaneously, and generically tailored. (Kahneman, 2011)