Adherence
Adding social influence strategies (monetary incentives, peer support) to maintenance programs improves adherence to weight loss strategies, though it does not necessarily lead to greater weight loss compared to therapist contact alone.
Using external rewards like group challenges or small incentives can help you stick to your plan in the short term. However, rely on these as a bridge to build habits, not the end goal. If you stop getting rewards, your adherence might drop. Focus on building problem-solving skills with a coach or support group to handle obstacles without needing external prizes.
The results showed that the addition of the social influence program (i.e., BCS) improved participant adherence during the year following treatment compared with the BC and BCA conditions. However, the higher levels of adherence in the social influence conditions were not accompanied by significantly better weight-loss progress.
Why this rating
RCT data, but self-reported adherence is the primary metric for this specific claim.
Source
Effects of four maintenance programs on the long-term management of obesity.
Michael G. Perri et al. · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · 1988
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