Additional Effects of Reduced Emotional Eating on Associations of Weight Loss via Changes in Social Cognitive Theory Variables

Background Improvements in the theory-based psychosocial variables of eating self-regulation, mood, and self-efficacy for controlled eating significantly predicted weight loss in community-based obesity treatments. However, in women, additional effects from reductions in emotional eating, and age an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of behavioral medicine 2022-08, Vol.29 (4), p.408-415
Main Author: Annesi, James J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Body mass index
Body weight loss
Cognitive ability
Eating behavior
Emotions
Ethnicity
Family Medicine
Full Length Manuscript
General Practice
Health Psychology
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Minority & ethnic groups
Mood
Obesity
Prediction models
Regulation
Skills
Variables
Weight control
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Summary:Background Improvements in the theory-based psychosocial variables of eating self-regulation, mood, and self-efficacy for controlled eating significantly predicted weight loss in community-based obesity treatments. However, in women, additional effects from reductions in emotional eating, and age and race/ethnicity are unclear. Methods Women ( N  = 130) participating in a community-based cognitive-behavioral obesity treatment were assessed on changes in theory-based psychosocial variables and weight. Results Treatment-associated improvements in self-regulation, mood, and self-efficacy over 3 months significantly predicted 6-month weight loss ( R 2  = 0.26), with self-regulation change being the strongest individual predictor. Entry of change in emotional eating into the prediction model significantly added to the variance in weight change explained. Age and race/ethnicity did not further improve the predictive strength. Conclusions In addition to targeting self-regulation skill development and, to a lesser extent addressing mood and self-efficacy improvements, behavioral obesity treatments should focus on emotional eating to maximize their large-scale effects on excess weight.
ISSN:1070-5503
1532-7558
DOI:10.1007/s12529-021-10025-x