Exploring the Relationship Between Stress and Weight Loss (2013)
Undergraduates: Mary Shen, Brooke T. Nezami, Melissa M. Crane Deborah F. Tate
Faculty Advisor: Deborah Tate
Department: Nutrition
Research shows perceived stress (PS) is related to weight gain, but few studies have examined PS during 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).
It is unclear how PS changes affect WL as PS was not associated with adherence. Baseline PS was associated with WL among men while reductions in PS were associated with WL in women. These results suggest that the relationship between PS and WL may vary by gender.