Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Emotional eaters regain weight

|
|
 
  
Published: Nov. 9, 2007 at 6:00 PM

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers find dieters who eat in response to emotional factors lose less weight over time and regain more weight.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, found internal factors -- such as "when I feel lonely, I console myself by eating"-- predicted weight change over time above and beyond other psychological issues including depression, binge eating and perceived stress. External factors such as social cues did not predict weight loss or regain of weight.

"Our results suggest that we need to pay more attention to eating triggered by emotions or thoughts as they clearly play a significant role in weight loss. Current treatments provide minimal assistance with eating in response to feelings or thoughts," lead study author Heather Niemeier, of the Miriam Hospital and of Brown University, said in a statement.

"Modifying our treatments to address these triggers for unhealthy eating and helping patients learn alternative strategies could improve their ability to maintain weight loss behaviors, even in the face of affective and cognitive difficulties."

Niemier points out those in behavioral weight loss programs lose an average of 10 percent of their body weight and these losses are associated with significant health benefits, but the majority return to baseline weights within three to five years.

Recommended Stories
© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Health News Stories
1 of 20
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visited in Washington
View Caption
Veterans etch the names of their friends inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War on May 26, 2012 in Washington, DC. More than 58,000 names of the servicemen who were killed or missing in the war are engraved on The Wall. UPI/Pat Benic
fark
Canadian hang-glider pilot says he's really sorry he dropped that poor tourist to her death, and...
In this day and age, the Golden Gate bridge would never be built, thanks to hipsters, enviro-nuts...
Dick Winters, a true American hero, immortalized with a statue in Normandy. It's about damn time...
Apparently Best Korean officials are suffering from contagious and deadly "traffic accidents"
Police state that naked man eating another naked man's face is certainly a rare occurrence. "Other...
Survey indicates women enjoy the best sex of their lives when they reach 28, men at 33. After that,...