Exercise Preferences Among Young Adults: Do Men and Women Want Different Things?

Background Young adult men are difficult to recruit and retain in lifestyle interventions. This may be in part to gender differences in exercise goals observed in men, but little is known about exercise preferences for young adults, specifically. The purpose of this study is to compare the exercise preferences of young men and women to inform future interventions in this area. We hypothesize that men will prefer strength training at higher rates than women, and that women will prefer supervised guidance at higher rates than men. Methods The sample included 288 young adults aged 18-25 (mean age=21.85, SD=2.2). Majority were women and within a normal BMI range (M=25.91, SD=5.3). An anonymous online survey study was completed. Participants were asked their preferred type of exercise (moderate intensity cardio, strength training, intense strength training, or a combination of cardio and strength training), and if they preferred to exercise at a clinic-based facility with supervised guidance or to exercise alone with guidance.Chi-square tests were conducted to determine if there are gender differences in preferences for exercise type and mode of delivery, accounting for BMI. Results Over two-third of young adults preferred a combination of moderate intensity cardio and strength training. Women and men differed significantly in their exercise preferences (p=\u3c .001). Less than 1% of women preferred intense strength training compared to the 15.3% of men. Women (17.4%) preferred moderate intensity cardio at higher rates than men (12.2%). However, when examining outcomes by BMI category, these results were only significantly different among individuals within a normal BMI (p=.000). Majority of young adults (67.7%) prefer exercising with their own with guidance from a program. Men and women did not differ in their preference to exercise with guidance or in a clinic-based program with supervision (p=.115). Conclusion Findings suggest that young adults overall prefer a combination of strength training and cardio, conducted on their own with guidance from a program. However, young men were more likely to prefer intense strength training; this was particularly true among men in a normal BMI range. These findings may be used to inform the tailoring of recruitment messaging and lifestyle interventions targeting this high-risk population.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1033/thumbnail.jp

Behavioral approaches to weight control: A review of current research

Weight management is a salient issue for women. Studies of behavioral, pharmacological and surgical interventions indicate that women comprise the majority of patients presenting for weight-loss treatment. In this review we discuss the health impact of obesity for women, review behavioral treatments for adult overweight and obesity, and address topics of particular relevance for women, including concerns that weight-loss treatment may precipitate the development of eating pathology, as well as time periods of high risk for weight gain such as pregnancy and menopause

Recruitment of young adults for weight gain prevention: randomized comparison of direct mail strategies

Abstract Background Recruiting young adults (ages 18–35 years) into weight gain prevention intervention studies is challenging and men are particularly difficult to reach. This paper describes two studies designed to improve recruitment for a randomized trial of weight gain prevention interventions. Study 1 used a quasi-experimental design to test the effect of two types of direct mailings on their overall reach. Study 2 used a randomized design to test the effect of using targeted messages to increase recruitment of men into the trial. Methods For Study 1, 60,000 male and female young-adult households were randomly assigned to receive either a recruitment brochure or postcard. Visits to recruitment websites during each mailing period were used to assess response to each mailing. Study 2 focused on postcard recruitment only. These households received either a targeted or generic recruitment postcard, where targeted postcards included the word “Men” in the headline text. Response rates to each type of card were categorized based on participant report of mailing received. Results The reach of the postcards and brochures were similar (421 and 386 website visits, respectively; P = 0.22). Individuals who received the brochure were more likely to initiate the online screener than those who received a postcard (P = 0.01). In Study 2, of those who completed the telephone screening, 60.9 % of men (n = 23) had received the targeted postcard as compared to the generic postcard (39.1 %, P = 0.30). The reverse was true for women (n = 62, 38.7 vs. 61.3 %, P = 0.08). Conclusions These studies suggest there was little difference in the reach of postcards versus brochures. However, recipients of brochures were more likely to continue to the next stage of study participation. As expected, men’s response to the weight gain prevention messages was lower than women’s response; but using targeted messages appears to have modestly increased the proportion of male respondents. These studies add to the limited experimental literature on recruitment messaging and provide further indication for using targeted messages to reach underrepresented populations while providing initial evidence on the effect of mailing type on message reach. Trial registration The Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01183689) on 13 August 2010

Preventing Weight Gain in Young Adults. A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Weight gain in young adults is an important public health problem and few interventions have been successful

Innovative Self-Regulation Strategies to Reduce Weight Gain in Young Adults: The Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) Randomized Clinical Trial

Weight gain occurs commonly in young adults and has adverse effects on health. Reducing weight gain in young adults would have significant public health impact

Weight gain prevention in young adults: design of the study of novel approaches to weight gain prevention (SNAP) randomized controlled trial

Abstract: Background Weight gain during young adulthood is common and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Preventing this weight gain from occurring may be critical to improving long-term health. Few studies have focused on weight gain prevention, and these studies have had limited success. SNAP (Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention) is an NIH-funded randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of two novel self-regulation approaches to weight gain prevention in young adults compared to a minimal treatment control. The interventions focus on either small, consistent changes in eating and exercise behaviors, or larger, periodic changes to buffer against expected weight gains. Methods/Design SNAP targets recruitment of six hundred young adults (18–35 years) with a body mass index between 21.0-30.0 kg/m2, who will be randomly assigned with equal probability to: (1) minimal intervention control; (2) self-regulation with Small Changes; or (3) self-regulation with Large Changes. Both interventions receive 8 weekly face-to-face group sessions, followed by 2 monthly sessions, with two 4-week refresher courses in each of subsequent years. Participants are instructed to report weight via web at least monthly thereafter, and receive monthly email feedback. Participants in Small Changes are taught to make small daily changes (~100 calorie changes) in how much or what they eat and to accumulate 2000 additional steps per day. Participants in Large Changes are taught to create a weight loss buffer of 5–10 pounds once per year to protect against anticipated weight gains. Both groups are encouraged to self-weigh daily and taught a self-regulation color zone system that specifies action depending on weight gain prevention success. Individualized treatment contact is offered to participants who report weight gains. Participants are assessed at baseline, 4 months, and then annually. The primary outcome is weight gain over an average of 3 years of follow-up; secondary outcomes include diet and physical activity behaviors, psychosocial measures, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Discussion SNAP is unique in its focus on weight gain prevention in young adulthood. The trial will provide important information about whether either or both of these novel interventions are effective in preventing weight gain. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0118368

Development and Validation of the Weight Control Strategies Scale

Objective To develop and validate the Weight Control Strategies Scale (WCSS), a self-report instrument to assess use of specific behaviors thought to facilitate weight loss. Design and Methods Factor analysis was conducted on 323 overweight and obese adults (mean age=48.7±10.9 years, mean BMI=35.4±4.9 kg/m2, 74% female) enrolled in three different behavioral weight loss trials who completed the WCSS prior to starting treatment. To evaluate construct validity, additional data on dietary intake, physical activity, treatment session attendance, and weight change were obtained from a subsample of participants before and after participation in a 48-week weight loss program. Results Principal components analysis with varimax rotation revealed a four component solution for the WCSS, representing the following subscales: Dietary Choices, Self-monitoring Strategies, Physical Activity, and Psychological Coping (a’s from 0.79–0.89). Longitudinal analyses showed that WCSS subscale scores increased during treatment (p’s \u3c0.01). In adjusted models, changes in WCSS total and subscale scores were associated with posttreatment weight loss (p’s \u3c0.01). Additionally, changes in WCSS Dietary Choices and Physical Activity subscales were related to posttreatment changes in total daily kilocalorie consumption (p=0.019) and weekly kilocalorie expenditure through physical activity (p\u3c0.001), respectively. Conclusions Findings support the validity and reliability of the WCSS in a weight loss treatment seeking sample

Dietary outcomes within the study of novel approaches to weight gain prevention (SNAP) randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Young adults (YA) are at high-risk for unhealthy dietary behaviors and weight gain. The Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) Trial demonstrated that two self-regulation approaches were effective in reducing weight gain over 2 years compared with control. The goal of this analysis was to examine effects of intervention on dietary outcomes and the association of diet changes with weight change. Methods Participants were 599 YA, age 18–35 years, BMI 21.0–30.0 kg/m2 (27.4 ± 4.4 years; 25.4 ± 2.6 kg/m2; 22% men; 73% non-Hispanic White), who were recruited in Providence, RI and Chapel Hill, NC and randomized to self-regulation with Small Changes (SC), self-regulation with Large Changes (LC) or Control (C). SC and LC emphasized frequent self-weighing to cue behavior changes (small daily changes vs. periodic large changes) and targeted high-risk dietary behaviors. Diet and weight were assessed at baseline, 4 months and 2 years. Results LC and SC had greater decreases in energy intake than C at 4 months but not 2 years. LC had the greatest changes in percent calories from fat at 4 months, but differences were attenuated at 2 years. No differences in diet quality were observed. Across conditions, increased total energy consumption, fast food, meals away from home, and binge drinking, and decreased dietary quality and breakfast consumption were all associated with weight gain at 2 years. Conclusions This study suggests the need to strengthen interventions to produce longer term changes in dietary intake and helps to identify specific behaviors associated with weight gain over time in young adults. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov # NCT01183689 , registered August 18, 2010