S McGregor1, J McKenna1, P Gately1, A J Hill2. 1. Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK. 2. Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Leeds University School of Medicine, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Variation in the existing literature on the psychosocial benefits of weight loss in obese youth results, in part, from methodological limitations and modest weight loss. Accordingly, this research assessed perceived self-competence and low self-esteem during an intensive weight loss programme in a large sample of obese youth and related these to starting weight, gender and weight loss. METHODS: Over 4 years, 303 obese male and female adolescents (body mass index [BMI] 34.3 kg m-2 , BMI standard deviation score 2.99; 14.7 years) attended a residential weight loss camp for a mean duration of 31 d. Outcome variables included dimensional self-esteem (Harter) and weight change over the camp. RESULTS: At the start of camp, obese youth scored highest on social acceptance and lowest on physical appearance and athletic competence. Global self-worth and most domains of self-competence improved significantly over the intervention. The proportion with low global self-worth reduced from 35% to 16%, but there was little change in the proportion reporting high self-competence (23%). Mean weight loss was -5.5 kg (BMI standard deviation scores -0.25) with boys and those heaviest at the start losing most. Weight loss was significantly correlated with improved physical appearance (r = 0.13) and athletic competence (r = 0.19), but not global self-worth. CONCLUSIONS: This intensive weight loss intervention yielded significant psychological benefit, especially in self-competence and among individuals achieving most weight loss. The weak association with weight loss suggests the influence of other contributing environmental or social features that should be the focus of further research.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Variation in the existing literature on the psychosocial benefits of weight loss in obese youth results, in part, from methodological limitations and modest weight loss. Accordingly, this research assessed perceived self-competence and low self-esteem during an intensive weight loss programme in a large sample of obese youth and related these to starting weight, gender and weight loss. METHODS: Over 4 years, 303 obese male and female adolescents (body mass index [BMI] 34.3 kg m-2 , BMI standard deviation score 2.99; 14.7 years) attended a residential weight losscamp for a mean duration of 31 d. Outcome variables included dimensional self-esteem (Harter) and weight change over the camp. RESULTS: At the start of camp, obese youth scored highest on social acceptance and lowest on physical appearance and athletic competence. Global self-worth and most domains of self-competence improved significantly over the intervention. The proportion with low global self-worth reduced from 35% to 16%, but there was little change in the proportion reporting high self-competence (23%). Mean weight loss was -5.5 kg (BMI standard deviation scores -0.25) with boys and those heaviest at the start losing most. Weight loss was significantly correlated with improved physical appearance (r = 0.13) and athletic competence (r = 0.19), but not global self-worth. CONCLUSIONS: This intensive weight loss intervention yielded significant psychological benefit, especially in self-competence and among individuals achieving most weight loss. The weak association with weight loss suggests the influence of other contributing environmental or social features that should be the focus of further research.
Authors: Ivo Vlaev; Michael J Taylor; David Taylor; Paul Gately; Laura H Gunn; Aliza Abeles; Abdelhamid Kerkadi; Jackie Lothian; Sahar Karim Jreige; Aziza Alsaadi; Mohamed G Al-Kuwari; Suhaila Ghuloum; Hanan Al-Kuwari; Ara Darzi; Mohamed Ahmedna Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-04-29 Impact factor: 3.295