The Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Weight Maintenance in Weight Cycling: Mediating Role of Eating Behavior

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Mar 27

PMID 38532390

Authors

Wanyang Li

Dan Wang

Hongyu Chen

Yan Liu

Shuyao Dong

Mingyao Sun

Wei Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a global public health concern. The goal of this study was to see if eating habits could mediate the relationship between psychological distress and weight maintenance in a population with a history of weight cycling.

Methods: A 3-month outpatient intervention consisting of a diet and exercise program was provided to 153 participants. Psychological distress, appetite, and behavior were assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken at baseline and six months.

Results: After the structural equation model was developed, it was discovered that the psychological status of people with obesity and weight cycling histories correlated with the weight loss outcome effect (three and six months). This effect was mediated by factors related to eating behavior. Associative psychological factors had a direct effect on eating behavior (three months: β = 0.181, 95% CI: 0.055-0.310; six months: β = 0.182, 95% CI: 0.039-0.332) and appetite had a direct effect on eating behavior (three months: β = 0.600, 95% CI: 0.514-0.717; six months: β = 0.581, 95% CI: 0.457-0.713), both of which were significant (p < 0.01). At three months, psychological distress has a more substantial positive impact on weight change, with eating behavior acting as a partial mediator. At six months, there was no support for appetite's moderating role in eating behavior.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that psychological interventions should be strengthened to improve weight loss effectiveness, particularly in participants with a history of weight cycling, making weight loss more complicated and prone to rebound.

Clinical Trial Registration: The study has been registered in Clinical Trials (NCT05311462).

Citing Articles

What Factors Influence Obesity in Spain? A Multivariate Analysis of Sociodemographic, Nutritional, and Lifestyle Factors Affecting Body Mass Index in the Spanish Population.

Sandri E, Piredda M, Sguanci M, Mancin S Healthcare (Basel). 2025; 13(4).

PMID: 39997261 PMC: 11855512. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13040386.

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