Relapses in alcoholics, smokers, and heroin users are frequently provoked by stress. Individuals often return to using addictive substances when feeling angry or frustrated as the result of negative mood states, interpersonal conflict, or social pressure. A behavioral weight-control program used to treat 140 overweight college students was evaluated during follow-up periods of 4-28 months to determine if emotional factors and external pressures were important in the failure of subjects to maintain weight losses. Most completers of the treatment program lost moderate amounts of weight which were, in many instances, not maintained after treatment termination. Analyses indicated that individuals with eating patterns related to negative emotional states and individuals who were married were most likely to gain weight in the follow-up period. Results suggest there is a need to investigate high-risk situations which provoke weight gain and to prepare program participants to cope with subsequent stressful episodes. (Author/HLM)