Perfectionism, self-efficacy, and self-control as predictors of diet success

The tendency for dieters to regain the weight they have lost in weight management programs represents an important problem in the treatment of obesity. The present research attempted to determine whether perfectionism, self-efficacy, perceived diet success, and self-control would predict diet success and adherence in a low calorie diet and behavior therapy weight loss program. Moderately, severely, and morbidly obese women ({dollar}N{dollar} = 40) were administered questionnaires at the end of the fasting phase and readministered once again three months later during the maintenance phase. Program dropouts were also tested and comparisons were made with adherers across all predictor variables and end percent weight loss.; The questionnaires which were employed were The Perfectionism Scale (Burns, 1980); The Eating Self-Efficacy Scale (Glynn & Ruderman, 1986); The Weight Reduction Efficacy Questionnaire (Weinberger & Agras, 1984); Rosenbaum's Self-Control Schedule (Rosenbaum, 1980); and the Success Survey. It was hypothesized that women scoring high in perfectionism would score low in self-efficacy and self-control. It was also predicted that perfectionists would rate their progress more harshly and consequently drop out. As a result, perfectionists would not be as successful in their weight loss efforts. Additionally, perfectionism, self-efficacy, and self-control would constitute a significant portion of the variance in diet success.; As was expected, self-efficacy was inversely correlated with perfectionism, and positively correlated with self-control. No other significant comparisons were found between adherers and dropouts, predictor variables and diet success, or predictor variables and adherence.; A post-hoc analysis was performed using a new definition of diet success called the change score. This score was calculated as the difference between the initial and final weight categories. The change score was positively correlated with perceived diet success taken at the initial testing. Furthermore, perceived diet success, perfectionism, completing the program, and self-efficacy significantly constituted a portion of the variance in the change score.; The findings highlight the need for a sensitive definition of diet success and support the position that perception of success is important in contributing to diet success.