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 invo lving 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/w eek of physical activity, 33,258-41,462 kJ/week diet and weekly meetin gs) 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. 1.3 1 +/- 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). Vari ous 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; men tal health: X change 10.4 +/- 16.0 vs. 2.3 +/- 10.1). Similarly, physi cal activity levels also improved significantly (p<0.0001) in the inte rvention group (4.4 +/- 2.3 vs. 0.6 +/- 1.3; on NASA 0-7 scale). Concl usions: Practical weight loss practices such as increased activity, se lf-selected hypocaloric diet, and group support are effective for weig ht loss and yield significant health and psychological benefits in mod erately obese females.