Which way to treat obesity? Emotional, eating and behavioural dieting
1995
Vigus, J. | Tata, P. | Judd, P. | Bowyer, C. | Evans, E.
The roles of psychological and other factors in the treatment of obesity were examined in the context of a Community-based Slimming Group (CSG), where some regular attenders appeared not to be benefiting as expected from the weight loss programme. A sample of 47 women from the CSG, who were about to embark on a 6 week weight loss programme, completed a series of questionnaires examining factors such as anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, binge eating and nutritional knowledge. Weight changes were recorded over the course of the programme and at follow up approximately 1 year later. As a basis for comparison similar data were collected from a sample of post obese (PO) women who had at one time had a body mass index (BMI) in the same range as the CSG. Subjects attending the CSG showed a mean weight loss of 1.6 kg over the 6 week programme. This was greatest in those who were only slightly overweight, had not been to the group previously and showed only limited nutritional knowledge at baseline. Seventy per cent regained much if not all the weight or more over the subsequent year (mean weight gain 3 kg), with high levels of anxiety and binge eating the predominant psychological features of the least successful. Large initial weight loss was predictive of good short term success but a poorer long term prognosis. In general the CSG at baseline exhibited greater psychological problems and binge eating behaviour than the PO group, who (on average) showed normal psychological profiles and eating behaviour. However the means disguised a small number of PO women with quite severe psychological and eating problems. Overall results revealed a complex interrelationship between psychological problems, binge eating, dieting behaviour and weight.
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