Self-control as measured by delay discounting is greater among successful weight losers than controls

Long-term weight loss maintenance is likely to require strong self-control in order to sustain changes in behavior patterns. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that those who have successfully maintained weight loss may have superior self-control compared to control participants. Self-control was assessed using a delay discounting task through a webbased assessment of members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR: N=757; non-obese=605; obese=152) and control participants (Control N=443; nonobese = 236; obese=207) from Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Both NWCR members that were currently obese (t =5.42, p<0.001) and nonobese (t=5.28, p<0.001) discounted the future less than control participants with comparable weight statuses. These results are indicative of higher levels of self-control behaviors in individuals that have lost and successfully maintained weight loss. Thus, successful weight losers may exhibit stronger self-control, as measured through discounting of future rewards, However, further research is needed to determine whether strong selfcontrol enables individuals to succeed at weight loss maintenance or develops as a consequence.