Non-dieting approach improves obese women's health

Overweight and obese women's health and well-being could be significantly improved through treatment approaches that do not rely on dieting, according to University of Otago researchers.

Their new study shows that 'non-dieting' interventions can be effective in reducing psychological distress and medical symptoms in women who are overweight or obese.

The findings appear in the latest edition of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

The Otago researchers tracked the long-term progress of 225 overweight or obese New Zealand women who participated in ten-week-long non-dieting intervention programmes.

Department of Human Nutrition's Dr Caroline Horwath says the study participants were a group at high risk of further weight gain over time.

"That the non-dieting interventions successfully prevented further weight gain over 12 months is a very positive result in itself," Dr Horwath says.

Research has shown that the traditional dieting approach of restricting both calories and foods types shows poor results in achieving long-term weight loss, she says.

"Within five years, many dieters regain any weight they lose and often end up heavier than when they began. They also tend to develop very unhealthy attitudes towards food and to lose their natural ability to recognise when they are hungry or full."

The non-dieting approach instead focuses on improving lifestyle behaviours to enhance health independently of weight loss, she says.

"The three intervention types in the study all encouraged the women to break free from chronic dieting and make sustainable lifestyle changes. This included listening to their feelings of hunger and fullness, rather than focusing on weight loss."

"We found that the most successful intervention involved providing intensive training in relaxation techniques while equipping the women to recognise and avoid stress-related triggers for eating," she says.

Dr Horwath says many overweight women have a fearful and guilt-ridden relationship with food, and their eating is often emotionally-triggered.

"We provided tools to help them deal with negative thoughts, emotions and attitudes and to encourage them to recover an enjoyment in eating as a natural activity related to hunger rather than stress."

The intervention, adapted from a programme developed by the Harvard Mind-Body Medical Institute, showed significant improvements in reducing psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression, and medical symptoms including pain, fatigue and insomnia, she says.

"No one treatment will be ideal for all women, but our findings suggest this may be an effective option for some overweight or obese women seeking to improve their psychological well-being and physical health."