Appendix A discusses instruments assessing psychological and behavioral factors, diet, and physical activity. Most of these instruments are not meant to be used in weight-management programs because they are impractical for such purposes or are geared towards use in clinical and field settings by researchers familiar with their proper administration. In particular, the wide variety of assessment instruments for psychological and behavioral factors and for physical activity are published here for the first time. As researchers and policy developers work towards providing weight-management programs with more practical tools to assess the psychosocial health, diet, and activity patterns of their clients and potential clients, the tools presented here should provide a useful starting point.

Regardless of the genetic and environmental factors that cause obesity, the psychological significance of this disease is important. Obese individuals who join comprehensive weight-loss programs experience major physiological changes, undertake major changes in lifestyle, and attempt to curtail a strongly appetitive behavior. Therefore, the psychological consequences of dieting and weight loss are important to examine (O'Neil and Jarrell, 1992). This section of Appendix A describes assessment instruments used in the related areas of obesity and psychopathology,