An exploration of obese observational learning in modifying selected eating responses of obese children

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of two observational learning paradigms in modifying the eating behavior of obese children. A total of 18 subjects ranging in age from seven to 12 years and in weight from 74 to 160 lb (33 to 72 kg) were randomly assigned to three conditions. Intervention consisted of four sessions in which subjects viewed videotapes of their baseline eating behaviors compared with a model eating at a reduced speed. Based on the assumption that children may acquire their parents' eating behaviors, one condition included videotapes of a same-sex adult model. In order to maximize model-observer similarity, subjects in a second treatment condition observed videotapes of themselves eating at a reduced speed. Subjects in the control condition viewed only their baseline eating behavior videotapes. Dependent measures of eating behavior were found to be significantly affected by both model treatments, while no significant differences were evidenced in the control group.