Improved psychological well-being, quality of life, and health practices in moderately overweight women participating in a 12-week structured weight loss program

Objective: To study the effects of a 12-week weight loss strategy involving increased physical activity, self-selected hypocaloric diet, and group support on psychological wellbeing, quality of life, and health practices in moderately obese women. Methods: Eighty women aged 20-49 years weighing between 20-50% above 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables were randomly assigned to a weight loss intervention (6279 kJ/week of physical activity, 33,258-41,462 kJ/week diet and weekly meetings) or served as controls. Subjects were tested pre and post 12-weeks. Results: The intervention group lost significant (p<0.001) body weight (kg) and body fat (%) compared to controls (-6.07 +/- 4.01 kg vs. 1.31 +/- 1.28 kg; 36.8%-32.5% vs. 36.2%-36.0%). Intervention subjects vs. controls achieved significant improvements (p<0.001) in body cathexis (X Change 18.6 +/- 16.7 vs. 0.7 +/- 8.6) and estimation of ability to achieve physical fitness (X Change 8.1 +/- 7.1 vs. 0.9 +/- 5.9). Various quality of life indices also improved (p<0.01) in the intervention group compared to controls (physical function: X Change 13.5.2 +/- 16.7 vs. 1.4 +/- 9.5; vitality: X change 21.7 +/- 17.9 vs. 2.9 20.8; mental health: X change 10.4 +/- 16.0 vs. 2.3 +/- 10.1). Similarly, physical activity levels also improved significantly (p<0.0001) in the intervention group (4.4 +/- 2.3 vs. 0.6 +/- 1.3; on NASA 0-7 scale). Conclusions: Practical weight loss practices such as increased activity, self-selected hypocaloric diet, and group support are effective for weight loss and yield significant health and psychological benefits in moderately obese females.