Research paper
Gorin AA, Wing RR, Fava JL, Jakicic JM, Jeffery R, West DS, Brelje K, Dilillo VG; Look AHEAD Home Environment Research Group. Weight loss treatment influences untreated spouses and the home environment: evidence of a ripple effect. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(11):1678-1684. doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.150
Why we cite it
The authors’ own priority claim: ”This study is the first to document that behavioral weight loss treatment delivered to one spouse has a clinically significant impact on the measured weight of the untreated spouse.” It draws on untreated spouses at three sites of the Look AHEAD trial. It reports associations with changes in the home food environment and with participant weight loss. The authors conclude that ”The reach of behavioral weight loss treatment can extend to a spouse, suggesting that social networks can be utilized to promote the spread of weight loss”. (Corrected 2026-09-19 from ”First study to document”, unattributed; ”a large, rigorous diabetes prevention study”, a ranking; ”to show that changes spread through … behavioral modeling”, since spread was associated, not shown; and ”Demonstrates” for the authors’ can extend … suggesting.)