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Exploring the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Weight Loss
Author(s) -
Shen Mary Rebecca,
Nezami Brooke T.,
Crane Melissa,
Tate Deborah F
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.36.5
Subject(s) - weight loss , medicine , attendance , perceived stress scale , demography , weight change , weight gain , obesity , body weight , stress (linguistics) , linguistics , philosophy , sociology , economics , economic growth
Research shows perceived stress (PS) is related to weight gain, but few studies have examined PS during a weight loss attempt. We hypothesized that higher PS would be associated with lower treatment adherence and less weight loss and we explored how change in PS during treatment is associated with weight loss. This data is from a 4‐month weight loss RCT intervention delivered via Internet and monthly in‐person sessions (N=192, 46.3±10.8 yrs, BMI 37.9±8.5, 91% women, 51% African‐American). Percent weight loss (WL) was calculated from measured weight and PS by the Perceived Stress Scale (range 0–40) at baseline and 4 months. Adherence was defined as website logins and group attendance. Intent‐to‐treat analyses (BOCF) controlled for group, race and education. Overall, PS decreased over time (17.1±5.8 to 14.3 ±6.7). Among women (n=175), baseline PS did not predict WL (p=.56) but decreases in PS were associated with greater WL (p<.01). In an exploratory analysis of men (n=17), baseline PS predicted WL (p<.01) but there was no association between PS change and WL (p=.80). Adherence was associated with WL (p's<.01), but baseline PS was not associated with adherence (p's >;.20). Baseline PS was associated with WL in men while reductions in PS were associated with WL in women. It is unclear how PS changes affect WL as PS was not associated with adherence. These results suggest the relationship between PS and WL may vary by gender. Grant Funding Source : Office of Undergraduate Research at UNC‐Chapel Hill