Effects of Behavioral Weight Loss and Weight Loss Goal Setting in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Purpose: Obesity is prevalent among participants in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Establishing a weight loss goal is an important strategy for promoting weight loss. We evaluate the association between a pre-program weight loss goal and change in weight during CR. Methods: Body weight was measured at CR entry and at exit from CR. Overweight/obese participants were categorized as having: (1) established a weight loss goal and attended behavioral weight loss sessions (G + BWL); (2) set a weight loss goal but did not attend BWL (G); (3) and neither set a weight loss goal nor attended BWL (NoG). Results: The cohort consisted of 317 overweight/obese participants; 52 of whom set a weight loss goal and attended BWL, 227 patients set a goal but did not attend BWL, and 38 did neither. The G + BWL group lost more weight than the G group (−6.8 + 4.3 vs −1.1 + 3.5) ( P < .0001). Both groups that established a weight loss goal lost more weight than the NoG group. Conclusions: For overweight/obese individuals in CR, participating in BWL classes and setting a weight loss goal leads to more weight loss than G alone. Setting a weight loss goal alone leads to greater weight loss than not setting a weight loss goal.