Cognitive Behavioral Approach To Treat Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Our aim was to analyze and compare the effects of three different long-term treatments on anthropometric profiles, eating behaviors, anxiety and depression levels, and quality of life of groups of adults with obesity.Methods: The 43 participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the education and health group (EH, n = 12), which received lectures on health topics; the physical exercise group (PE, n = 13), which underwent physical training; and the interdisciplinary therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy (IT + CBT) (n = 18) group, which received physical training, nutritional advice, and physical and psychological therapy.Results: Total quality of life increased significantly in the EH group (o = 2.00); in the PE group, body weight significantly decreased (o = -1.42) and the physical domain of quality of life improved (o = 1.05). However, the most significant changes were seen in the IT + CBT group, in which the anthropometric profile improved; there were an increase in quality of life in all domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental), an improvement in eating behaviors [Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), total o = -8.39], and a reduction in depression [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), o = -10.13).Conclusion: The IT + CBT program was more effective than the PE and EH programs.