Characteristics of Drop-outs from a long-term behavioral treatment program for obesity

Severely obese subjects (n = 68) were treated in a combined behavioral modification program and monitored for a 4-year period of time. Ten subjects dropped out, and two subjects died during the study, resulting in a 18% dropout rate. The Karolinska Scales of Personality were used to compare personality traits between the subjects in the drop-out group and the group who completed (n = 56) the program. The drop outs showed significantly higher scores in the Impulsiveness and the Monotony Avoidance scales and lower scores in the Socialization scale as compared with the group who completed the program. Thus, those who left the program had higher scores in psychopathic-related personality traits. There were no drop outs during the last 1 1/2 years of this 4-year follow-up period.