Weight reduction: Behaviour modification in a community health centre

Obese subjects “at-risk” in the 1972 Busselton Population Survey were asked to participate in a weight reduction programme based at the Busselton Health Centre in 1975–6. A twelve months programme was carried out wherein group I used the Servier Unit Eating Guide (low carbohydrate regime) and a behaviour modification package and group II the Servier booklet alone. The programme was administered by the Health Centre nursing sisters. Group I subjects were characterized by significant weight losses whereas the losses of group II subjects were not significant. “Rotter locus “of control” scores were not a predictor of response to the programme. There were some problems with anti-psychology attitudes and the dispersed rural population but despite these the programme was economical and easily administered.