The impact of pre-treatment weight-loss expectations on weight loss, weight regain, and attrition in people who are overweight and obese: a systematic review of the literature.

 Research exploring the relationships between initial weight-loss expectations with actual outcome in terms of weight loss, weight regain, and attrition/attendance suggests contradictory findings. The purpose of this review was to collate research exploring the impact of weight-loss expectations on weight loss, weight regain, and attendance/attrition. It was hoped this would further the current understanding of the relationship between expectations and outcome.