Incorporating motivational interviewing into behavioral obesity treatment Original Research Article

Motivational interviewing may be an appealing addition to a comprehensive behavioral weight loss program. Behavioral strategies have been shown effective in achieving modest weight reduction; however, not all individuals are successful at initial weight loss and many struggle with continued weight maintenance. Theory-based strategies that may enhance overall treatment efficacy or facilitate behavior change for specific clients are needed. Motivational interviewing has been demonstrated effective in facilitating behavior change in addictive disorders, and preliminary applications as an adjunct to obesity treatments are promising. The article presents fundamentals of motivational interviewing and specific examples of applications within a behavioral weight control program.