Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dietary treatment for obesity reduces BMI and improves eating psychopathology, self-esteem and mood

  • Article
  • Published:
Netherlands Journal of Psychology

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study, the hypothesis was tested that a regular dietary treatment for obesity that is primarily directed at decreasing weight will also decrease concerns about shape, weight and eating, will reduce binge eating, and will improve mood and self-esteem. Moreover, we investigated whether a group treatment and an individual treatment were equally effective.

Method: Fifty-four obese participants followed either a group treatment (n = 31) or an individual treatment (n = 23) provided by dieticians.

Results: The data showed that overall, BMI, weight concerns and depressive symptoms decreased and self-esteem increased. The percentage of bingers decreased marginally significantly. For dietary restraint, eating concerns and shape concerns group treatment led to greater changes than individual treatment.

Conclusion: Although the dietary treatment was not aimed at changing psychological characteristics, patients significantly improved on measures of eating-related and general psychopathology. (Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 64, 8-15.)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J. & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561-571.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, Z. & Fairburn, C.G. (2001). A new cognitive behavioural approach to the treatment of obesity. Behavior Research and Therapy, 39, 499-511.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Zwaan, M., Mitchell, J.E., Seim, H.C., Specker, S.M., Pyle, R.L., Raymond, N.C. & Crosby, R.B. (1994). Eating related and general psychopathology in obese females with binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 15, 43-52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fairburn, C.G. & Beglin, S.J. (1994). Assessment of eating disorders: Interview or self-report questionnaire? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 16, 363-370.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fairburn, C.G. & Cooper, Z. (1993). The Eating Disorder Examination (12th edition). In: C.G. Fairburn (Ed.). Binge eating: Nature, assessment, and treatment (pp. 317-360). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garner, D.M. & Wooley, S.C. (1991). Confronting the failure of behavioral and dietary treatments for obesity. Clinical Psychology Review, 11, 729-780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hogan, B.E., Linden, W.L. & Najarian, B. (2002). Social support interventions: Do they work? Clinical Psychological Review, 22, 381-440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen A. (1998). Eating Disorders. In: A.S. Bellack & M. Hersen (Eds). Comprehensive Clinical Psychology (pp. 649-667). Oxford: Elsevier Science Limited, Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffery, R.W., Epstein, L.H., Wilson, G.T., Drewnowski, A., Stunkard, A.J. & Wing R.R. (2000). Long-term maintenance of weight loss: Current status. Health Psychology, 19 (Suppl 1), 5-16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen, L.A.P., Gorin, A., Stone, A.A. & le Grange, D. (2003). Characteristics of binge eating among women in the community seeking treatment for binge eating or weight loss. Eating Behaviors, 3, 295-305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalarchian, M.A., Wilson, G.T., Brolin, R.E. & Bradley, L. (2000). Assessment of eating disorders in bariatric surgery candidates: Self-report questionnaire versus interview. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 28, 465-469.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalarchian, M.A., Wilson, G.T., Brolin, R.E. & Bradley, L. (1998). Binge eating in bariatric surgery patients. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 23, 89-92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, D.L., Chan, W., Gonzalez, M., Larson, D., Nawaz, H., Abdulrahman, M. & Yeh, M.C. (2002). Technical skills for weight loss: preliminary data from a randomized trial. Preventive Medicine, 34, 608-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcus, M.D., Smith, D., Santelli, R. & Kaye, W. (1992). Characterization of eating disordered behavior in obese binge eaters. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 12, 249-255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Musante, G.J., Costanzo, P.R. & Friedman, K.E. (1998). The comorbidity of depression and eating dysregulation processes in a diet-seeking obese population: A matter of gender specificity. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 23, 65-75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nauta, H., Hospers, H., Kok, G. & Jansen, A. (2000). A comparison between a cognitive and behavioral treatment for obese binge eaters and obese non-binge eaters. Behavior Therapy, 31, 441-461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C.B., Mitchell, J.E., Engbloom, S., Nugent, S., Mussell, M.P. & Miller, J.P. (1998). Group cognitive-behavioral treatment of binge eating disorder: A comparison of therapist-led versus self-help formats. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 24, 125-136.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polivy, J. & Herman, C.P. (1985). Dieting and binging: A causal analysis. American Psychologist, 40, 193-201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polivy, J. & Herman, C.P. (1993). Etiology of binge eating: Psychological mechanisms. In: C.G. Fairburn (Ed.). Binge eating: Nature, assessment, and treatment (pp. 173-205). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polivy, J. & Herman, C.P. (1992). Undieting: A program to help people stop dieting. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 11, 261-268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porzelius, L.K., Houston, C., Smith, M., Arfken, C. & Fisher, E. (1995). Comparison of a standard behavioral weight loss treatment and a binge eating weight loss treatment. Behavior Therapy, 26, 119-134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Presnell, K. & Stice, E. (2003). An experimental test of the effect of weight-loss dieting on bulimic pathology: Tipping the scales in a different direction. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 166-170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, D.A., Hyndman, J. & Taba, F. (1999). Nutritional counselling in general practice: a cost effective analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 53, 311-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, D.M. & Crocker, J. (1999). When ideology hurts: Effects of belief in the Protestant ethic and feeling overweight on the psychological well-being of women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 402-414.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbrocco, T., Nedegaard, R.C., Stone, J.M. & Lewis, E.L. (1999). Behavioral Choice Treatment Promotes Continuing Weight Loss; Preliminary Results of a Cognitive-Behavioral Decision-Based Treatment for Obesity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 260-266.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E. (2002). Risk and maintenance factors for eating pathology: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 825-848.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Striegel Moore, R.H., Wilson, G.T., Wilfley, D.E., Elder, K.A. & Brownell, K.D. (1998). Binge eating in an obese community sample. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 23, 27-37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, K.A. (2001). The clinical features of binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa: What are the differences? Canadian Journal of Counselling, 35, 315-328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanco, S., Linden, W. & Earle, T. (1998). Well-being and morbid obesity in women: A controlled therapy evaluation. International Journal of Eating Disorders,23, 325-339.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Telch, C.F. & Agras, W.S. (1994). Obesity, binge eating and psychopathology: Are they related? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 15, 53-61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torgerson, J.S., Agren, L. & Sjostrom, L. (1999). Effects on body weight of strict or liberal adherence to an initial period of VLCD treatment. A randomised, one-year clinical trial of obese subjects. International Journal of Obesity, 23, 190-197.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torgerson, J.S., Lissner, L., Lindroos, A.K., Kruijer, H. & Sjostrom, L. (1997). VLCD plus dietary and behavioural support versus support alone in the treatment of severe obesity. A randomised two-year clinical trial. International Journal of Obesity, 21, 987-94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troisi, A., Scucchi, S., San Martino, L., Montera, P., d'Amore, A. & Moles, A. (2001). Age specificity of the relationship between serum cholesterol and mood in obese women. Physiology and Behavior, 72, 409-413.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Borne, H.W., Geertsma, F. & Westmaas Jes, M.M. (1988). Effecten van een nieuwe groepsbehandeling voor dikke vrouwen. / Effectiveness of a new group treatment for obese women. Gedrag and Gezondheid: Tijdschrift voor Psychologie en Gezondheid, 16, 108-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venditti, E.M., Wing, R.R., Jakicic, J.M., Butler, B.A. & Marcus, M.D. (1996). Weight cycling, psychological health, and binge eating in obese women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 400-405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visscher, T.L., Kromhout, D. & Seidell, J.C. (2002). Long-term and recent time trends in the prevalence of obesity among Dutch men and women. International Journal of Obesity, 26, 1218-24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadden, T.A., Brownell, K.D. & Foster, G.D. (2002). Obesity: Responding to the global epidemic. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 510-525.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilfley, D.E., Agras, W.S., Telch, C.F., Rossiter, E.M., Schneider, J.A., Golomb Cole, A. et al. (1993). Group cognitive-behavioral therapy and group interpersonal psychotherapy for the nonpurging bulimic individual: A controlled comparison. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 296-305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilfley, D.E., Schwartz, M.B., Spurrell, E.B. & Fairburn, C.G. (2000). Using the Eating Disorder Examination to identify the specific psychopathology of binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 27, 259-269.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G.T. (1994). Behavioral treatment of obesity: Thirty years and counting. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 16, 31-75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Work and Social Psychology (UNS 5), Faculty of Psychology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, NL, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Marieke Q. Werrij, Sandra Mulkens, Harm J. Bruyn, Harm J. Bruyn & Anita Jansen

Authors
  1. Marieke Q. Werrij
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sandra Mulkens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Harm J. Bruyn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Harm J. Bruyn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anita Jansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marieke Q. Werrij.

Additional information

Received 18 September 2007; revision accepted 12 October 2007.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Werrij, M.Q., Mulkens, S., Bruyn, H.J. et al. Dietary treatment for obesity reduces BMI and improves eating psychopathology, self-esteem and mood. NEJP 64, 8–14 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03076404

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03076404

Keywords

Search

Navigation