Dietary changes in an acceptance-based weight loss pilot intervention study

To evaluate pre-post changes in dietary intake and the possible role of emotional eating (EE) as a mediator of dietary changes in a novel behavioral weight loss intervention (Live FREE).

Secondary analysis of an open label pilot study.

Thirty-nine adults with overweight/obesity and EE.

Live FREE is a 16-week group-based program in which participants learn emotional regulation skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy followed by traditional behavioral weight loss techniques.

Dietary intake and EE were measured at baseline and post-treatment with the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool and the depression subscale of the revised Emotional Eating Scale.

Paired sample t-tests and mediation for repeated measures designs.

Consumption of calories (t(33) = 5.31, p < .001), saturated fat (t(33) = 5.25, p < .001), and added sugar (t(33) = 4.44, p < .001) decreased from pre-post-treatment. EE change mediated the effect of the intervention on change in saturated fat intake pre-post-treatment, B = 6.16, BootSE = 2.47, 95 % CI (1.53 to 11.37), but did not mediate change in caloric or added sugar intake.

Participants reported improvement in caloric, saturated fat, and added sugar intake. Improvement in EE may be closely related to decreasing saturated fat consumption. (200).