Satisfaction with weight loss: Examining the longitudinal covariation between people's weight-loss-related outcomes and experiences and their satisfaction

Background: Recent research has shown that satisfaction with weight loss is predictive of weight loss maintenance, yet empirical evidence for how people derive satisfaction with weight loss is quite limited. Purpose: To determine whether satisfaction with weight change systematically covaries with various weight-loss-related outcomes and experiences (e.g., improvement in physical appearance, amount of frustration experienced), which outcomes and experiences are the strongest longitudinal correlates of satisfaction, and whether the longitudinal covariations are due to between-person differences and/or within-person changes. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data obtained from overweight or obese individuals enrolled in a weight-loss program who were followed for 18 months using random coefficient models. Results: In univariate analyses controlling for the amount of weight people lost, nine of ten outcomes and experiences independently covaried with people's satisfaction, and the models accounted for 21-38% of the within-person variance in satisfaction. In a multivariate analysis, four outcomes and experiences remained as significant longitudinal covariates of satisfaction. In both sets of analyses, there were more significant relations due to within-person changes than to between-person differences. Conclusions: The results suggest that people's weight loss satisfaction systematically covaries with ongoing changes in weight-loss-related outcomes and experiences. The findings help elucidate how people derive satisfaction with weight loss.