Excessive Appetite

Because most dieters eventually fail to control their weight, most have come to believe that for them self-management is futile, and hence must depend on an external source of control to achieve their goal. Unfortunately, changes achieved through external agency last only as long as that agent is effective. With the exception of surgery, the vast majority of those who lose weight through such methods weigh more a year later than when they began the program. However, for individuals with a particular set of attributes there is a viable path to good long-term outcome without surgery.

In contrast to diets, medication, and group treatment programs, the self-directed approach described here requires that the individual accept responsibility to develop his or her own plan, which includes how to get the self to react as intended to stress and temptation. This approach is best matched with individuals who are self-directed in other areas of their lives, have good problem solving skills, and an internal locus of control.

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