Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Treat Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Our aim was to analyze and compare the effects of three different long-term treatments on anthropometric profiles, eating behaviors, anxiety and depression levels, and quality of life of groups of adults with obesity. Methods: The 43 participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the education and health group (EH, n = 12), which received lectures on health topics; the physical exercise group (PE, n = 13), which underwent physical training; and the interdisciplinary therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy (IT + CBT) (n = 18) group, which received physical training, nutritional advice, and physical and psychological therapy. Results: Total quality of life increased significantly in the EH group (△ = 2.00); in the PE group, body weight significantly decreased (△ = -1.42) and the physical domain of quality of life improved (△ = 1.05). However, the most significant changes were seen in the IT + CBT group, in which the anthropometric profile improved; there were an increase in quality of life in all domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental), an improvement in eating behaviors [Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), total △ = -8.39], and a reduction in depression [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), △ = -10.13). Conclusion: The IT + CBT program was more effective than the PE and EH programs. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT02573688.

Keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy for obesity; obesity and comorbidities; psychological factors of obesity; psychological factors of weight loss; quality of life.