NASM WEIGHT LOSS SPECIALIST Exam
Questions and Answers (2024 /
2025) (Verified Answers)
What are psychological factors? - CORRECT ANSWER the biological, social, and
environmental factors that affect an individual's thoughts, feelings, and actions.
What are the 5 psychological factors that are key reasons why people with obesity may
not achieve their weight loss goals? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Coping
2. Dieting
3. Willpower
4. Adherence
5. Ambivalence
What are some examples of weight loss-related stressors? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Weight-related stigma
-Anxiety, sadness, anger
-Having poor decision-making skills
-Living within an unsupportive social-environmental context
-Holding negative beliefs about the capability to change
What is the specialty area in psychology that offers evidence-based methods for
addressing the five key psychological factors of weight loss? - CORRECT ANSWER
Cognitive-behavioral psychology
What is Coping? - CORRECT ANSWER use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to
deal with challenging situations and interpersonal conflict, or to manage or minimize
negative emotions that are caused by stressors
What are coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER deliberate thoughts or actions
individuals take to manage the stressful situation or conflict; can be adaptive or
maladaptive
What are adaptive coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER Positive thoughts or
actions in response to a challenging situation or conflict to reduce the impact of the
stressor
What does implementing adaptive coping strategies look like? - CORRECT ANSWER -
reframing the problem in a positive way
-planning
,-recognizing and reducing the negative emotional reactions to the stressor
-making realistic judgements of challenging situations
What are maladaptive coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER using negative
thoughts or actions that temporarily reduce the unpleasant effects of the stressor but do
not eliminate or resolve the challenging situation
What does implementing maladaptive coping strategies look like? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Using unhealthy or self-indulgent behaviors (ex: binge eating, substance
abuse)
-Aggressive behaviors
-Rumination (ex: repeatedly thinking about a problem or situation without a resolution)
-Negative self-talk
-Denial
-Withdrawl
How can we classify coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER -adaptive vs
maladaptive
-problem-focused vs emotion-focused
What are problem-focused coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER used when the
individual believes they can control the challenging situation or remove the stressor by
taking action
What is an example of a problem-focused coping strategy? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Problem: Experiencing weight-related stigma that can lead to lowered psychological
well-being, poorer health outcomes, and negative interpersonal interactions.
-Action: Seeking advice from a trusted person on how to cope with weight-related
stigma
When are emotion-focused coping strategies used? - CORRECT ANSWER when the
stressor can't be removed or changed
What are emotion-focused coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER coping strategies
that are used to control one's emotional response to the stressor
Avoiding situations that a person with obesity believes would lead to weight-related
stigma is an example of what kind of coping strategy? - CORRECT ANSWER a harmful
emotion-focused coping strategy
Use of avoidant strategies has been associated with ____ in persons with obesity. -
CORRECT ANSWER increased feelings of isolation and greater psychological distress
What are some examples of problem-focused adaptive coping strategies obese
individuals can use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Planning
,-Communal coping (cooperative problem solving)
-Positive self-talk
-Compensation (being skilled in other activities that challenge societal assumptions
about being obese)
What are some examples of problem-focused maladaptive coping strategies obese
individuals may use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Confrontation (verbal/physical aggression to directly confront the "perpetrator" or alter
the situation)
-Personal attribution (ex: admitting weight status is unacceptable but not taking personal
responsibility for it)
-Self-indulgent behavior (coping by eating more food)
-Behavioral disengagement / avoidance ( avoiding places where stigma is more likely to
occur)
What are examples of emotion-focused adaptive coping strategies obese individuals
can use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -Self-protection (ex:
attributing negative feedback to the prejudices of others and focusing on one's personal
strengths)
-Seeking support
-Positive reinterpretation (ex: seeing a stressful situation/interaction in a positive way)
-Distancing (creating a positive outlook & detaching oneself from the stigmatizing
situation/person)
What are examples of emotion-focused maladaptive coping strategies individuals may
use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -Confirmation of neg.
stereotypes (ex: self-criticism, internalization of negative stereotypes about obese
persons)
-Denial (refusal to believe stressors exist)
-Psychological avoidance (ex: avoidance or suppression of thoughts and emotions
despite these efforts causing harm to the individual)
-Negative emotional expression (ex: feeling sad, depressed, angry or badly about one's
body.)
What are unconscious coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER coping strategies that
occur outside a person's level of awareness but can still affect an individual's conscious
thoughts, feelings, and actions; can be immature (acting out), intermediate (repressing
negative feelings), or mature (using humor)
What is an example of an unconscious coping strategy? - CORRECT ANSWER When
confronted with stressful situations, a person with obesity may cope with negative
feelings by overconsuming comfort foods that remind them of their childhood.
Despite initial short-term successes with weight loss, maintaining weight loss long-term
remains a challenge. What percentage of US adults who have ever been overweight or
obese have maintained a weight loss of at least 15-20%? - CORRECT ANSWER 10%
, In adults with obesity, what percentage of weight loss is associated with improvements
in cardiovascular health (such as lowered bp, higher levels of good cholesterol and
better blood sugar levels)? - CORRECT ANSWER 5-10%
What is the foundation for weight loss? - CORRECT ANSWER generating and
maintaining an energy deficit
What are some examples of dietary approaches that promise quick and effortless
results? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Eliminating or greatly reducing whole food groups
2. Using diet pills or herbal remedies
3. Drastically changing consumption of a specific macronutrient (ex: very low-fat; high
protein; keto)
T/F: While nearly dietary approach to weight loss has been associated with weight loss
at 6 months, weight regain is a common feature because virtually no dietary approach
addressed the biological, social-environmental, and psychological causes of obesity. -
CORRECT ANSWER TRUE
What biological factors are associated with obesity? - CORRECT ANSWER genetics,
epigenetics (changes in gene expression that are not due to changes in DNA such as
the environment), and hormone imbalances
What are social-environmental factors of obesity? - CORRECT ANSWER cultural
beliefs, socioeconomic factors, food availability and affordability
What psychological factors play a role in obesity? - CORRECT ANSWER depression,
anxiety, negative affect, stress
Using dietary approaches that are low in calories yet maintain proper nutrition to
achieve weight loss have been associated with improvements in ____. - CORRECT
ANSWER Mood and quality of life
Calorie restriction that results in macro and micronutrient deficiencies can cause
adverse psychological changes such as ____. - CORRECT ANSWER feeling
depressed, anxious, irritable, having obsessive thoughts about food, developing all-or-
nothing mindsets
What strategies have been identified as effective behavioral and cognitive-behavioral
strategies when designing a weight loss program? - CORRECT ANSWER dietary self-
monitoring, goal setting, feedback and reinforcement, behavioral modification, stimulus
control, and relapse prevention
Questions and Answers (2024 /
2025) (Verified Answers)
What are psychological factors? - CORRECT ANSWER the biological, social, and
environmental factors that affect an individual's thoughts, feelings, and actions.
What are the 5 psychological factors that are key reasons why people with obesity may
not achieve their weight loss goals? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Coping
2. Dieting
3. Willpower
4. Adherence
5. Ambivalence
What are some examples of weight loss-related stressors? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Weight-related stigma
-Anxiety, sadness, anger
-Having poor decision-making skills
-Living within an unsupportive social-environmental context
-Holding negative beliefs about the capability to change
What is the specialty area in psychology that offers evidence-based methods for
addressing the five key psychological factors of weight loss? - CORRECT ANSWER
Cognitive-behavioral psychology
What is Coping? - CORRECT ANSWER use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to
deal with challenging situations and interpersonal conflict, or to manage or minimize
negative emotions that are caused by stressors
What are coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER deliberate thoughts or actions
individuals take to manage the stressful situation or conflict; can be adaptive or
maladaptive
What are adaptive coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER Positive thoughts or
actions in response to a challenging situation or conflict to reduce the impact of the
stressor
What does implementing adaptive coping strategies look like? - CORRECT ANSWER -
reframing the problem in a positive way
-planning
,-recognizing and reducing the negative emotional reactions to the stressor
-making realistic judgements of challenging situations
What are maladaptive coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER using negative
thoughts or actions that temporarily reduce the unpleasant effects of the stressor but do
not eliminate or resolve the challenging situation
What does implementing maladaptive coping strategies look like? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Using unhealthy or self-indulgent behaviors (ex: binge eating, substance
abuse)
-Aggressive behaviors
-Rumination (ex: repeatedly thinking about a problem or situation without a resolution)
-Negative self-talk
-Denial
-Withdrawl
How can we classify coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER -adaptive vs
maladaptive
-problem-focused vs emotion-focused
What are problem-focused coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER used when the
individual believes they can control the challenging situation or remove the stressor by
taking action
What is an example of a problem-focused coping strategy? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Problem: Experiencing weight-related stigma that can lead to lowered psychological
well-being, poorer health outcomes, and negative interpersonal interactions.
-Action: Seeking advice from a trusted person on how to cope with weight-related
stigma
When are emotion-focused coping strategies used? - CORRECT ANSWER when the
stressor can't be removed or changed
What are emotion-focused coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER coping strategies
that are used to control one's emotional response to the stressor
Avoiding situations that a person with obesity believes would lead to weight-related
stigma is an example of what kind of coping strategy? - CORRECT ANSWER a harmful
emotion-focused coping strategy
Use of avoidant strategies has been associated with ____ in persons with obesity. -
CORRECT ANSWER increased feelings of isolation and greater psychological distress
What are some examples of problem-focused adaptive coping strategies obese
individuals can use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Planning
,-Communal coping (cooperative problem solving)
-Positive self-talk
-Compensation (being skilled in other activities that challenge societal assumptions
about being obese)
What are some examples of problem-focused maladaptive coping strategies obese
individuals may use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Confrontation (verbal/physical aggression to directly confront the "perpetrator" or alter
the situation)
-Personal attribution (ex: admitting weight status is unacceptable but not taking personal
responsibility for it)
-Self-indulgent behavior (coping by eating more food)
-Behavioral disengagement / avoidance ( avoiding places where stigma is more likely to
occur)
What are examples of emotion-focused adaptive coping strategies obese individuals
can use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -Self-protection (ex:
attributing negative feedback to the prejudices of others and focusing on one's personal
strengths)
-Seeking support
-Positive reinterpretation (ex: seeing a stressful situation/interaction in a positive way)
-Distancing (creating a positive outlook & detaching oneself from the stigmatizing
situation/person)
What are examples of emotion-focused maladaptive coping strategies individuals may
use to deal with weight-related stigma? - CORRECT ANSWER -Confirmation of neg.
stereotypes (ex: self-criticism, internalization of negative stereotypes about obese
persons)
-Denial (refusal to believe stressors exist)
-Psychological avoidance (ex: avoidance or suppression of thoughts and emotions
despite these efforts causing harm to the individual)
-Negative emotional expression (ex: feeling sad, depressed, angry or badly about one's
body.)
What are unconscious coping strategies? - CORRECT ANSWER coping strategies that
occur outside a person's level of awareness but can still affect an individual's conscious
thoughts, feelings, and actions; can be immature (acting out), intermediate (repressing
negative feelings), or mature (using humor)
What is an example of an unconscious coping strategy? - CORRECT ANSWER When
confronted with stressful situations, a person with obesity may cope with negative
feelings by overconsuming comfort foods that remind them of their childhood.
Despite initial short-term successes with weight loss, maintaining weight loss long-term
remains a challenge. What percentage of US adults who have ever been overweight or
obese have maintained a weight loss of at least 15-20%? - CORRECT ANSWER 10%
, In adults with obesity, what percentage of weight loss is associated with improvements
in cardiovascular health (such as lowered bp, higher levels of good cholesterol and
better blood sugar levels)? - CORRECT ANSWER 5-10%
What is the foundation for weight loss? - CORRECT ANSWER generating and
maintaining an energy deficit
What are some examples of dietary approaches that promise quick and effortless
results? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Eliminating or greatly reducing whole food groups
2. Using diet pills or herbal remedies
3. Drastically changing consumption of a specific macronutrient (ex: very low-fat; high
protein; keto)
T/F: While nearly dietary approach to weight loss has been associated with weight loss
at 6 months, weight regain is a common feature because virtually no dietary approach
addressed the biological, social-environmental, and psychological causes of obesity. -
CORRECT ANSWER TRUE
What biological factors are associated with obesity? - CORRECT ANSWER genetics,
epigenetics (changes in gene expression that are not due to changes in DNA such as
the environment), and hormone imbalances
What are social-environmental factors of obesity? - CORRECT ANSWER cultural
beliefs, socioeconomic factors, food availability and affordability
What psychological factors play a role in obesity? - CORRECT ANSWER depression,
anxiety, negative affect, stress
Using dietary approaches that are low in calories yet maintain proper nutrition to
achieve weight loss have been associated with improvements in ____. - CORRECT
ANSWER Mood and quality of life
Calorie restriction that results in macro and micronutrient deficiencies can cause
adverse psychological changes such as ____. - CORRECT ANSWER feeling
depressed, anxious, irritable, having obsessive thoughts about food, developing all-or-
nothing mindsets
What strategies have been identified as effective behavioral and cognitive-behavioral
strategies when designing a weight loss program? - CORRECT ANSWER dietary self-
monitoring, goal setting, feedback and reinforcement, behavioral modification, stimulus
control, and relapse prevention
