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Effects of a group-based weight management programme on anxiety and depression: A randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Jebb, Susan 
Wheeler, Graham 
Ahern, Amy 

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the impact of a group-based weight management programme on symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with self-help in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). METHOD: People with overweight (Body Mass Index [BMI]≥28kg/m2) were randomly allocated self-help (n = 211) or a group-based weight management programme for 12 weeks (n = 528) or 52 weeks (n = 528) between 18/10/2012 and 10/02/2014. Symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, at baseline, 3, 12 and 24 months. Linear regression modelling examined changes in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale between trial arms. RESULTS: At 3 months, there was a -0.6 point difference (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.1, -0.1) in depression score and -0.1 difference (95% CI, -0.7, 0.4) in anxiety score between group-based weight management programme and self-help. At subsequent time points there was no consistent evidence of a difference in depression or anxiety scores between trial arms. There was no evidence that depression or anxiety worsened at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence of harm to depression or anxiety symptoms as a result of attending a group-based weight loss programme. There was a transient reduction in symptoms of depression, but not anxiety, compared to self-help. This effect equates to less than 1 point out of 21 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and is not clinically significant.

Description

Funder: national institute for health research


Funder: nihr oxford biomedical research centre

Keywords

Anxiety Disorders, Case-Control Studies, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Self-Management, United Kingdom, Weight Loss, Weight Reduction Programs

Journal Title

PLoS One

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1932-6203
1932-6203

Volume Title

17

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sponsorship
MRC (unknown)
MRC (MC_UU_00006/6)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4)