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Published on: April 28, 2023
Weight loss impacts risky decisions in obesity
Beatrix Keweloh1, Damiano Terenzi2, Eva Froehlich3
1Department of Decision Neuroscience & Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research, 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Background & Aims:
Risky decision making is shaped by individual psychological and metabolic state. Individuals with obesity show not only altered risk behavior, but also metabolic and psychological abnormalities. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a substantial weight loss in individuals with severe obesity will 1) normalize their metabolic and psychological state and 2) will change their pattern of decision guidance.
Methods:
We assessed the effect of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and mood on risk behavior in individuals with obesity (n = 62, 41 women; BMI, 46.5 ± 4.8 kg/m2; age, 44.9 ± 14.7 years) before and after 10-weeks weight loss intervention.
Results:
Results showed that this intervention reduced participants' risk behavior, which was significantly predicted by their changes in BMI. Before intervention, mood, but not HbA1c significantly predicted decisions. After the weight loss, mood no longer, but HbA1c significantly predicted decisions.
Conclusion:
Our findings shed light on the psychological and metabolic mechanisms underlying altered risky decision making in severe obesity and can inform the development of strategies in the context of weight loss interventions.
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