Rapid Treatment of Gross Obesity by Operant Techniques

Abstract

This paper reports the application of operant techniques in the treatment of a case of gross obesity. The patient weighed 407 lbs. at the initiation of the program, was schizophrenic, and probably had metabolic and/or endocrine dysfunction as contributing factors. Over a period of 6 mo., of which the last 6 wk. were an extinction period, she lost 102 lbs. at a relatively stable rate. At the end of the extinction period, the loss rate had slowed somewhat but showed no indications of reversal. The rapid weight loss, compared to that in earlier studies, is attributed to positive reinforcement for weight lost, in addition to control of caloric intake.