Effect of Structured Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy on Body Weight, Mental Status and the Quality of Life in Obese and Overweight Individuals: A 16-Week Follow Up Study.

OBJECTIVE

It was aimed in this study to investigate the effects of group cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) on the body weight, depression, anxiety, quality of life, self-esteem, dietary cognitive distortions and eating behavior of obese and overweight people.

METHOD

The study was carried out at the Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, between 01.07.2017 and 31.12.2017. The participants attended group CBT sessions once weekly for eight weeks. Reinforcement sessions took place at the 12th and 16th weeks. At the first, 8th, 12th and the 16th weeks, body weights were measured and the participants were asked to complete the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Obese Individuals Specific Quality of Life Scale (OISQLS), the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Diet Related Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DRDAS).

RESULTS

The group mean age was 41.71±4.46 years, 32 (91.4%) being female. Significant improvements were found in body weight and the scores on the BDI, BAI, DEBQ, OISQLS, DRDAS, and the RSES (p<0.001 for each). The average percent weight loss was 10.2%. The BDI score was the best predictor of the change in body mass index (BMI).

CONCLUSION

CBT-based group treatments for obese and overweight people are effective in losing weight. Therapy participants with less depression symptoms benefit more from treatment and lose more weight. These results should be re-evaluated in randomized controlled trials.