Your Weight Locus of Control

Chapter 4, page 55.

For each statement below, decide how much you agree or disagree with it. Of the four answer choices, select the one that best expresses how you feel about the statement: if you agree totally without reservations, then select "a" agree; "b" if you agree slightly; "c" if you disagree slightly; or "d" if you disagree completely. Click on the Score button for your results.

Part A. Internal Weight Locus of Control

1.Gaining, losing, and maintaining weight is entirely up to me.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

2. I am overweight as a result of my eating habits.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

3. I am overweight as a result of being inactive or not getting enough exercise.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

4. If I set realistic, measurable goals, I can lose weight no matter what.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

5. Failure to keep my weight off is due to poor effort on my part.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

Part B. External Weight Locus of Control

6. Family history has most determined my weight and size.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

7. I need a structured, formal diet program, or else I have difficulty losing weight.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

8. I depend on good doctors or nutritionists to help me lose weight.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

9. I need prescription diet pills or other diet aids to lose weight.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

10. I overeat because there is too much tempting food in my environment.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

Part C. Chance Weight Locus of Control

11. Being at my ideal weight is a matter of good fortune.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

12. My failure to lose weight is just bad luck.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

13. I will go off my diet if I have a bad day.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

14. No matter if I gain weight, lose weight, or stay the same, it is just going to happen, and that's life.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

15. I am very lucky if I stick to my exercise program.
a. Agree.
b. Agree slightly.
c. Disagree slightly.
d. Disagree.

Part A. Internal
Part B. External
Part C. Chance

SCORING

Your score is calculated separately for each of the three parts of the WLOC assessment (Internal, External, and Chance). For each "Agree" answer, you are given 4 points; for each "Agree slightly" answer, you are given 3 points; for each "Disagree slightly" answer, you are given 2 points; and for each "Disagree" answer, you are given 1 point. The totals are in the spaces above.

Your responses to the questions for each part of the assessment generated three separate scores, each ranging from five to twenty. For each of the three parts of the test — Internal, External, and Chance — your scores place you into one of four categories: very low, low, average, or high for each of the three parts of the test, in accordance with the following chart:

Part A: Internal Weight Locus of Control
5 to 7: Very low attribution of your weight to internal responsibilities
8 to 11: Low attribution of your weight to internal responsibilities
12 to 16: Average attribution of your weight to internal responsibilities
17 to 20: High attribution of your weight to internal responsibilities

Part B: External Weight Locus of Control
5 to 7: Very low attribution of your weight to external responsibilities
8 to 11: Low attribution of your weight to external responsibilities
12 to 16: Average attribution of your weight to external responsibilities
17 to 20: High attribution of your weight to external responsibilities

Part C: Chance Weight Locus of Control
5 to 7: Very low attribution of your weight to chance
8 to 11: Low attribution of your weight to chance
12 to 16: Average attribution of your weight to chance
17 to 20: High attribution of your weight to chance

Copyright 2003 by Phillip C. McGraw