Research suggests that poor body image, low self-esteem, and depression may be associated with failure to maintain weight loss (Lean, 2000). However, definitive results are lacking, necessitating further research. Both successful and unsuccessful weight maintainers (N = 148) were recruited from weight-loss programs. Self-report measures on dimensions of body image, depression, and self-esteem were administered at baseline and a three-month follow-up. Results suggest that those with early-onset obesity have more body image dissatisfaction than those with late-onset obesity, which appears to be due to BMI differences between groups with the former having a higher BMI than the later. Other results indicate no differences between short-term and long-term weight maintainers on change in body image in three months. Furthermore, change in body image is not a significant predictor of successful weight maintenance. Further research will be necessary to clarify the relationship between body image and weight maintenance.
","abstract_html":"<p>Research suggests that poor body image, low self-esteem, and depression may be associated with failure to maintain weight loss (Lean, 2000). However, definitive results are lacking, necessitating further research. Both successful and unsuccessful weight maintainers (N = 148) were recruited from weight-loss programs. Self-report measures on dimensions of body image, depression, and self-esteem were administered at baseline and a three-month follow-up. Results suggest that those with early-onset obesity have more body image dissatisfaction than those with late-onset obesity, which appears to be due to BMI differences between groups with the former having a higher BMI than the later. Other results indicate no differences between short-term and long-term weight maintainers on change in body image in three months. Furthermore, change in body image is not a significant predictor of successful weight maintenance. Further research will be necessary to clarify the relationship between body image and weight maintenance.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Collings, Amy S"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Karen Saules, Ph.D., Chair","Flora Hoodin, Ph.D.","Nina Nabors, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2005,"date_issued":"2005-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2005-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z","subjects":["Weight loss Psychological aspects","Body image","Obesity Psychological aspects","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/124","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Karen Saules, Ph.D., Chair","Flora Hoodin, Ph.D.","Nina Nabors, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Collings, Amy S"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Weight loss Psychological aspects","Body image","Obesity Psychological aspects","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/124"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Research suggests that poor body image, low self-esteem, and depression may be associated with failure to maintain weight loss (Lean, 2000). However, definitive results are lacking, necessitating further research. Both successful and unsuccessful weight maintainers (N = 148) were recruited from weight-loss programs. Self-report measures on dimensions of body image, depression, and self-esteem were administered at baseline and a three-month follow-up. Results suggest that those with early-onset obesity have more body image dissatisfaction than those with late-onset obesity, which appears to be due to BMI differences between groups with the former having a higher BMI than the later. Other results indicate no differences between short-term and long-term weight maintainers on change in body image in three months. Furthermore, change in body image is not a significant predictor of successful weight maintenance. Further research will be necessary to clarify the relationship between body image and weight maintenance.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The relationship between body image and weight maintenance in community women enrolled in weight-loss programs"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Karen Saules, Ph.D., Chair","Flora Hoodin, Ph.D.","Nina Nabors, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Collings, Amy S"],"dc:description.abstract":["Research suggests that poor body image, low self-esteem, and depression may be associated with failure to maintain weight loss (Lean, 2000). However, definitive results are lacking, necessitating further research. Both successful and unsuccessful weight maintainers (N = 148) were recruited from weight-loss programs. Self-report measures on dimensions of body image, depression, and self-esteem were administered at baseline and a three-month follow-up. Results suggest that those with early-onset obesity have more body image dissatisfaction than those with late-onset obesity, which appears to be due to BMI differences between groups with the former having a higher BMI than the later. Other results indicate no differences between short-term and long-term weight maintainers on change in body image in three months. Furthermore, change in body image is not a significant predictor of successful weight maintenance. Further research will be necessary to clarify the relationship between body image and weight maintenance.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/124"],"dc:subject":["Weight loss Psychological aspects","Body image","Obesity Psychological aspects","Psychology"],"dc:title":["The relationship between body image and weight maintenance in community women enrolled in weight-loss programs"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z"}