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Among Men Attempting Weight Loss, Setbacks Precede Goal Disengagement
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Among Men Attempting Weight Loss, Setbacks Precede Goal Disengagement

Charlotte Joyce Hagerman, Danny K. Choo-Kang, Trang Minh Dang, Meghan L Butryn and Evan M Forman
Annals of behavioral medicine, v 60(Supplement_1), pp S236-S236
01 Apr 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaag012#page=S236
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaag012#page=S236View
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Abstract

Pursuing long-term weight loss and maintenance is extremely challenging in the modern environment, and individuals often experience setbacks in the form of weight loss plateaus or weight gain. Setbacks tend to be demoralizing and lead people to disengage with their goals. However, few studies have directly explored this phenomenon in the context of weight control, and all have used predominantly female samples. The current study examined whether experiencing weight gain predicted goal disengagement using longitudinal data from men attempting long-term weight loss. The study is a secondary data analysis of 134 men with overweight/obesity (M BMI=33.39, M age=44.19) enrolled in a year-long, mobile app-based behavioral weight loss program, “NeuroFit.” Men were asked to digitally self-monitor their weight and calorie intake daily and to read educational modules weekly. Using multilevel models, we explored whether weight gain in a given month (i.e., when average weight in Month M was higher than M-1) predicted program engagement in the following month (M+1), including the number of days participants tracked their calories, weighed themselves, read modules, and logged into the NeuroFit app. Critically, analyses controlled for the study month (2-12) and the target outcome during month M. We also tested whether monthly weight gain predicted greater likelihood of gaining weight the following month. On average, men gained weight in 3.99 (SD=2.32) out of 12 months. When men experienced a monthly weight gain (vs. loss or maintenance), in the following month, they read modules on significantly fewer days (b=-.30, p<.001) and tracked their calories on marginally fewer days (b=-.76, p=.066). Weight gain in a given month also predicted weight gain the following month (b=.97, p<.001). There was no association between monthly weight gain and weigh-ins or app logins the following month (ps>.10). The findings add to the growing base of evidence that weight gain setbacks may lead to goal disengagement during weight loss attempts, and that participants are unlikely to reverse weight gain after it begins. Nevertheless, it is possible that a third variable could be influencing all or part of these relationships. Findings in this all-male sample echo previous findings in samples of mostly women. Future work should explore strategies to help individuals recover from weight-related setbacks.

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