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Weight maintenance and relapse in obesity: a qualitative study
S Byrne1, Z Cooper, C Fairburn
1University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. sbyrne@psy.uwa.edu.au
Summary
Psychological factors like dissatisfaction with weight loss and mood-related eating can predict weight regain in women with obesity. Vigilance and balanced thinking are key to successful weight maintenance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Obesity Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Weight regain after loss is common among individuals with obesity.
- Understanding psychological factors is crucial for sustainable weight management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify psychological factors distinguishing women who successfully maintain weight loss from those who regain weight.
- To compare these factors with those in healthy-weight women.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research using in-depth individual and group interviews.
- Study included 76 females: 28 successful weight maintainers, 28 weight regainers, and 20 healthy-weight controls.
Main Results:
- Weight regainers, unlike maintainers, showed dissatisfaction with weight goals, linked self-worth to weight/shape, lacked vigilance, exhibited dichotomous thinking, and used eating for mood regulation.
- These psychological traits were not observed in successful weight maintainers.
Conclusions:
- Psychological factors offer potential explanations for weight regain post-obesity treatment.
- Further prospective research is needed to validate these findings and inform interventions.