The psychological ramifications of weight management

It has long been believed that food restriction leads to psychological dist urbances, including depression, preoccupation with food, and binge eating. However, recent studies suggest that comprehensive weight loss programs tha t incorporate behavioral treatment, diet change, and encouragement of physi cal activity in fact can improve the psychological state, including mood. A study conducted on subjects participating in the Weight Watchers program d emonstrated positive psychological changes and improved quality of life. Th ese changes may help motivate overweight people to maintain the physical ac tivity and nutritional practices necessary to lose and maintain weight. Pro grams that include group support, like Weight Watchers, have been associate d with psychological benefits independent of the amount of weight lost. Fur thermore, dieters who regain lost weight do not appear to experience advers e psychological consequences. The development or exacerbation of bulimia ha s been linked by some authors to strict dieting, but more moderate weight c ontrol programs do not appear to produce disordered eating and may help red uce binge eating among overweight people. Individuals who successfully lose and maintain weight have been shown to experience improved mood, self-conf idence, and quality of life. Additionally, decreasing levels of psychologic al and behavioral symptoms have been associated with increasing duration of weight loss maintenance. It can be concluded that quality of life and othe r psychological measures improve in individuals on comprehensive weight man agement programs.