PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF WEIGHT-LOSS AND REGAIN - A PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION

This study prospectively assessed the psychological effects of weight loss and regain (i.e., weight cycling) in obese women. Measures of moo d, binge eating, restraint, disinhibition, and hunger were obtained fr om 55 participants at baseline, after 6 months of treatment, and 58 mo nths posttreatment. Women lost 21.1 +/- 8.4 kg after 6 months of treat ment but were 3.6 +/- 10.9 kg above baseline weight at the time of the follow-up. Contrary to expectations, after this 21-kg cycle of weight loss and regain. women reported significant improvements in mood and binge eating, as well as reductions in hunger and disinhibition. Restr aint was unchanged from baseline to follow-up. These data suggest that weight loss and regain are not associated with long-term adverse psyc hological effects. The findings also confirm earlier reports of signif icant weight regain after treatment and underscore the need for resear ch to improve the maintenance of weight loss.