Table 3.

Descriptive information on the studies included.

Authors	Baseline Sample Characteristics	Design/Intervention	Treatment Duration/Follow-up Assessmentsa	Weight Loss Goals Assessed	Relationship of Weight Loss Goal and Follow- up BMIc
Perkins (2001)58	N=79 (57 females) Mean age 46 years Mean BMI 42.1 kg/m2 Note: N breakdown was calculated by percentages ; the % of that sample that was female was 72.7	Retrospective study utilizing survey/medical record extraction among patients of an outpatient endocrinology clinic who had been diagnosed with obesity	Treatment: Varied according to the individual Follow-up: Non-time limited program	Goal Weight: Desired weight at the end of treatment (Weight individual expects to achieve at the end of the intervention)	No association between weight loss goal and weight loss at the end of the intervention.
Valenti (2001)59	N=88 females Mean age 48.0 years Mean BMI 33.2 kg/m2	Three group randomized weight loss trial consisting of varying combinations of behavioral therapy, resistance training, and aerobic walking	Treatment: 6 months Follow-up: 6 months	Goal Weight: Weight individual expects to achieve at the end of the intervention	Higher weight loss goal associated with greater weight loss at the end of the intervention.
Teixeira (2002)15	N=112 females Mean age 47.8 years Mean BMI 31.4 kg/m2	One group pre/post test design evaluating the effects of a group- based behavioral therapy weight loss program	Treatment: 4 months Follow-up: 4 months	Goals from Part II of the GRWQ b	No association between weight loss goal (happy weight) and weight loss at the end of the intervention (completers analysis; used in meta analysis) Lower weight loss goals related to more weight loss in the last observation carried forward method analysis only
Foster (2004)27	N=17 females Mean age 46.5 years Mean BMI 34 kg/m2	One-group pre-post design assessing the effects of a modified cognitive behavioral therapy program promoting modest weight goals and weight loss	Treatment: 20 weeks Follow-up : 40 weeks	Goals from Part II of the GRWQ b	No association between weight loss goal (happy weight) and weight loss at the end of the intervention
Linde (2004)12	N=302 (mostly female) Mean age 46.7 years Mean BMI 33.9 kg/m2	Randomized clinical trial of cognitive interventions designed to influence outcome expectations associated with weight loss	Treatment: 8 weeks Follow-up: 8 weeks; 6, 18 months	Adapted goals from the GRWQb Goal Weight: Weight expected at the end of program Dream Weight: A weight you would choose if you could weigh whatever you wanted	No association between weight loss goal and weight loss at the end of the intervention (Note: Higher dream weight loss goals were associated with greater weight loss at 18 month follow up)
Teixeira (2004)21	N=140 females Mean age 38.3 Mean BMI 30.3 kg/m2	One-group pre-post design assessing the effects of a group- based behavioral therapy weight loss program	Treatment: 4 months Follow-up: 4 months	Goals from Part II of the GRWQb	No association between weight loss goal (happy weight) and weight loss at the end of the intervention (completers analysis; used in meta analysis) Higher weight loss goals associated with less weight loss in the last observation carried forward method analysis only
Grave (2005)14	N= 1785 (1393 females) Median age 46.0 years Median BMI 36.7 kg/m2	Observational study investigating quality of life in obese patients seeking treatment in 25 Italian medical centers	Treatment: Duration varied according to medical center; Patients assessed at 12 months Follow-up: N/A	Expected 1 year weight loss(Goal Weight): Weight loss patients expected to lose with treatment after 12 months Maximum acceptable weight: Heaviest weight that patients could accept and tolerate to reach after treatment Dream weight: Body weight that the patient dreams of achieving with treatment	No association between weight loss goal and weight loss at the end of the intervention (Note: Higher dream weight loss goals were associated with less weight loss at the end of the intervention.)
Linde (2005)19	N=1801 (1293 females, 508 males) Mean female age 49.97 years Mean male age 54.14 years Mean female BMI 33.86 kg/m2 Mean male BMI 33.10 kg/m2	Randomized control weight loss trial (three groups: mail, phone, usual care)	Treatment: 12 months Follow-up: 12 months, 24 months	Goal Weight: Weight individual expects to achieve at the end of the Weigh to Be Intervention Ideal Weight: Weight participants would like to weigh	No association between weight loss goal and weight loss at the end of the intervention for males or females. Higher weight loss goals were associated with greater weight loss at 24 month follow up in women only
Fabricatore (2007)18	N=180 (149 females, 31 men) Mean age 43.8 years Mean BMI 37.6 kg/m2	Four group randomized trial consisting of varying combinations of behavioral and pharmacological therapies	Treatment: 52 weeks Follow-up: 4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks	Expected Loss (Goal weight): Weight individual expects to achieve at the end of the intervention Ultimate Goal: Weight expected to lose in total, whether or not it can be achieved	No association between weight loss goal and weight loss at the end of the e intervention in the collapsed sample
White (2007)28	N=139 (123 females) Mean age 42.4 years Mean BMI 57.79 kg/m2	One-group pre-post design among bariatric surgery candidates	Treatment: Gastric bypass surgery Follow-up 6, 12 months ( For analyses, 12 month period considered the “end of the intervention”)	Goals from Part II of the GRWQb	No association between weight loss goal (happy weight) and weight Loss at the end of the intervention (Note: Lower acceptable weight loss goals were associated with greater weight loss at 12 months)
White (2011)60	N=84 African American females Mean age 49 years Mean BMI 37 kg/m2	One-group pre-post design assessing the effects of group behavioral weight loss intervention	Treatment: 6 months. Follow-up: 6 months	Goals from Part II of the GRWQb:	No association between weight loss goal(happy weight) and weight loss at the end of the intervention

^aFollow-up assessments are post-baseline.

^bPart II of the Goals and Relative Weight Questionnaire (GRWQ); ⁷ assesses the following weight goals: Dream Weight: A weight you would choose if you could weigh whatever you wanted; Happy Weight: This weight is not as ideal as the first one [dream]. It is a weight, however, that you would be happy to achieve; Acceptable Weight: A weight that you would not be particularly happy with, but one that you could accept, since it is less that your current weight; Disappointed Weight: A weight that is less than your current weight, but one that you could not view as successful in any way. You would be disappointed if this were your final weight after the program

^cResults reported are for all treatment groups collapsed (when applicable) unless otherwise specified.