Adherence
Engaging in 'planning talk' during Motivational Interviewing (MI) sessions is associated with better weight loss maintenance outcomes, specifically greater weight and BMI reduction compared to low planning.
When using Motivational Interviewing for weight loss, encourage clients to engage in 'planning talk'. However, be aware that vague or 'medium' level goal setting might actually lead to weight gain. Instead, focus on helping clients create highly specific, high-commitment plans. Therapists should use questions to help clients refine their plans to be more specific, as this specificity is linked to better outcomes.
Frequent planners lost on average 2.8 kgs (95% CI) and 1.2kg/m² (95% CI) more than those who were low planners (not statistically significant). Medium goal setters statistically significantly increased on average their weight (8.8kg) and BMI (3.5 kg/m²) compared to low goal setters.
Why this rating
The study uses a coding system with acceptable reliability (86%) and regression analysis, but the primary weight/BMI outcomes were not statistically significant, and the sample size for specific planning categories appears limited.
Source
Understanding the therapeutic process: mechanisms of motivational interviewing in weight loss maintenance
Lauren Copeland · ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) · 2015
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