A Self-Regulation Program for Maintenance of Weight Loss - Essay Example

This paper is based on analysis of a study conducted by Dr. R. Wing and team on ‘A Self-Regulation Program for Maintenance of Weight Loss’ which covered the issue of obesity and weight regain and supported the hypothesis by the data and research. This study was published on an online news website “FoxNews.com” by M. Hitti. This paper is compares the scientific presentation and media presentation of the same study. The media presentation of the study has been impressive and interesting even to gain attention of a layman. It is well structured and well presented media article. It has its focus on the target readers who may or may not be very much interested in each and every detail of the study but can be very much interested in knowing how to maintain their weight not to regain. The article has been a successful effort in providing what readers look for in any news. Summary of Scientific Journal article The article used for this study is ‘A Self-Regulation Program for Maintenance of Weight Loss’ from the journal ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ published on 31 October 2006. The team of Dr. Rena Wing, PhD have conducted this study. Dr. Wing is also Brown University professor of psychiatry and human behaviour and co founder of National Weight Control Registry program. The paper is based on one of the most concerning issues of today’s scenario. Obesity is a problem which leads to several other health related and psychological problem in an individual. People once lose weight sometimes become relaxed and regain the weight they had lost. The journal article is based on this issue of obesity and maintenance of weight loss. The main issue in the study are regaining of weight in individuals after weight loss program and impact of maintenance program based on self regulatory theory on this weight regains. People face to face interaction and daily weighing creates better impact on the interest and efforts of maintaining weight and avoiding weight regain. The hypothesis of the paper is that “the interventions, delivered face to face or over the Internet, would decrease average weight regain and reduce the proportion of participants who regained 2.3 kg or more during a period of 18 months.” The study is about weight regain. There are various dependent and independent variables considered in this study. There were various dependent variables like weight loss in specific period, calories intake, physical activity and method of instruction like face to face, internet or control group were dependent on variables like sex, age, weight, body mass index (BMI) which was independent variables. The weight loss in specific period was related with the method of instructions. The results of the study indicated that a self regulatory program for weight maintenance is more effective than receiving quarterly newsletters or emails on weight maintenance. As stated in the results of the study in the journal “Daily self-weighing increased in both intervention groups and was associated with a decreased risk of regaining 2.3 kg or more.” The face to face interactions where people meet each other and weigh regularly the chances of regaining the lost weight is low and more is the probability of that people will be able to maintain their lost weight in comparison to other method of contacts. The hypothesis was fully supported by the results of the study. The results indicated that the weights regain of 2.3 kg or more in the 18 months was lowest in the face to face interventions. The average weight regain was reduced among the participants. A self regulation program of maintenance of weight loss works best when the interventions are based on face to face interactions. It allows people to share their experiences with each other and keeps one motivated to maintain the weight loss and do not regain. This is due to the social contacts they make, interactions they have and daily weighing keeps them conscious to the level to follow instructions provided to them and maintain their lost weight. Media Report The media report used for this analysis is the coverage of the study of Dr. Wing and team which is “A Self-Regulation Program for Maintenance of Weight Loss” The title of the media article is “Keeping the Pounds Off: What Works?” published in Foxnews.com in WebMD section. It is written by Miranda Hitti. The article was published on 11 October 2006. Each media article is targeted to specific group of people interested in that particular topic. Now these readers or audience can be highly qualified people of the same field or a common man with a general interest. This means the article should be covering any particular topic in such a way that it is understandable by each and every individual who reads it, irrespective of his level of education. I think reporter Hitti have done an excellent job in presenting such a technical paper in an interesting, understandable and simple way that it could be understood by a common man to a man with specific knowledge of the field. Hitti have been able to create an interest by the title itself “Keeping the Pounds off: What works?” The title attracts attention of people interested in maintaining their lost weight, people who have regained weight or anyone with general interest in obesity related articles. Hitti started the article as a solution for those who want to maintain their weight loss by stating “Have you shed some extra pounds? A new medical study provides tips for keeping the weight off.” In the later part of the article Hitti divided the overall article in various sections like Preventing Weight Regain, Green, Yellow, Red Zones and Meetings, Daily Weigh-Ins Helped and covered the overall methodology and results in these sections. Reporter provided facts and figures which could be understood easily and for detailed reference she provided the name and details of the source of the article. In general the statement in the main message of media report was the news factor which emphasized that maintenance of weight regain is possible with appropriate method of maintenance of weight. The reporter has used the word “weight” 19 times in the paper with the adjectives like low, loss, regain and others. If one reads the journal article the frequency of the word ‘weight’ is even high there as well. The message in the journal article is very clear. Face to face interaction and daily weighing is the most effective among all the weight maintenance methods along with other activities like proper calorie intake and burns etc. The data and figures used in the article are taken from the Journal which is accurate and well presented. There is no fabrication of results or the main statement of the study report of the journal article. Media coverage of any issue or subject looks for the news content of the paper. The reporters or the media personnel have a responsibility to provide general people news which can change their way of life or view of life to a certain extent. Media acts as a source of inspiration and positive changes in individuals’ life whether it is due to news, information, entertainment or message. If one compares it on these parameters this article is well written, well presented, has news content in itself and can impact the way of life of people. People who want to maintain their weight by self regulation will look for some group or mechanism where they can weight regularly their weight and have some kind of environment of face to face interactions. It is very challenging to present scientific results or empirical results in the way that even a common man or layman would understand that. This article has been successful in doing that. It is well presented and included the data, methodology and major findings of the paper in such a way that it becomes interesting and structured in its format. The clarity of presentation and use of simple language added value to the media presentation. Reference Wing, R. The New England Journal of Medicine, Oct. 12, 2006; vol 355: pp 1563-1571. National Weight Control Registry. News release, The Miriam Hospital Hitti, M. (2006) Keeping the Pounds Off: What Works? Retrieved on 9 November 2006 from < http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,219958,00.html?sPage=fnc.health/nutrition > Read More