The Psychological Ramifications of Weight Management

Abstract

It has long been believed that food restriction leads to psychological disturbances, including depression, preoccupation with food, and binge eating. However, recent studies suggest that comprehensive weight loss programs that incorporate behavioral treatment, diet change, and encouragement of physical activity in fact can improve the psychological state, including mood. A study conducted on subjects participating in the Weight Watchers program demonstrated positive psychological changes and improved quality of life. These changes may help motivate overweight people to maintain the physical activity and nutritional practices necessary to lose and maintain weight. Programs that include group support, like Weight Watchers, have been associated with psychological benefits independent of the amount of weight lost. Furthermore, dieters who regain lost weight do not appear to experience adverse psychological consequences. The development or exacerbation of bulimia has been linked by some authors to strict dieting, but more moderate weight control programs do not appear to produce disordered eating and may help reduce binge eating among overweight people. Individuals who successfully lose and maintain weight have been shown to experience improved mood, self-confidence, and quality of life. Additionally, decreasing levels of psychological and behavioral symptoms have been associated with increasing duration of weight loss maintenance. It can be concluded that quality of life and other psychological measures improve in individuals on comprehensive weight management programs.

The Effects of a Low‐Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet and a Low‐Fat Diet on Mood, Hunger, and Other Self‐Reported Symptoms

“…The psychological effects of dieting and weight loss are variable. Some studies have shown that weight loss from diets or surgery can lead to improved quality of life and positive emotional responses (1, 2, 3), others have shown dieting to be associated with increased negative affect (4, 5), while at least one study has shown no effect (6). Differences in these outcomes may be attributable to a broad range of factors (7, 8), including type of treatment (e.g., supported vs. unsupported), research sample (e.g., obese dieters vs. volunteers put on diets), and the focus of research measures (e.g., outcome vs. process).…”

“…Differences in these outcomes may be attributable to a broad range of factors (7, 8), including type of treatment (e.g., supported vs. unsupported), research sample (e.g., obese dieters vs. volunteers put on diets), and the focus of research measures (e.g., outcome vs. process). Weight loss resulting from dieting among obese individuals, for instance, has been shown to reliably result in positive outcomes (2).…”

Health-related quality of life in a randomised placebo-controlled trial of sibutramine in obese patients with type II diabetes

“…[1][2][3] Weight loss achieved by surgical techniques 1 and lifestyle interventions [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] has improved HRQL. Diabetes with its complications has been associated with deteriorated HRQL [12][13][14][15][16] and improvement in glycaemic control with the loss of hyperglycaemic symptoms has improved HRQL in type II diabetes patients.…”

Development and validation of the Treatment Related Impact Measure of Weight (TRIM-Weight)

“…Each of these domains labelled Daily Life, Psychological Health, Weight Management, Treatment Burden and Experience of Side Effects are critical components of how patients experience AOM and are supported by previous research which has identified ways in which being overweight or obese adversely affects daily life and psychological health, including work productivity, attendance, social integration, overall psychological well being, stigmatization, self-esteem, joint pains, and depression [1,35]. In contrast, weight loss has led to increased participation in physical and social activities; greater energy and vitality; improvements in mood, self-confidence, self-concept, satisfaction with self-appearance and body image; decreased mirror avoidance; and improvements in emotional reaction, psychological stress, anxiety and depression [36-39]. …”