Adherence
Increases in psychological flexibility moderate the relationship between weight loss and depression reduction, such that individuals who lose weight AND increase psychological flexibility experience significantly greater reductions in depression than those who lose weight alone.
If you are doing a weight loss program, don't just focus on the scale. Pay attention to your ability to stay committed to your goals even when it feels hard or uncomfortable (psychological flexibility). The research shows that people who get better at this mental skill while losing weight see much bigger improvements in their depression than those who just lose weight. Consider adding mindfulness or acceptance-based strategies to your routine to boost mental health outcomes.
Change in psychological flexibility was found to significantly moderate the positive relationship between weight change and change in depression over the course of a 3-month behavioral weight loss intervention, such that individuals with greater increases in psychological flexibility experienced greater reductions in depression levels when also losing weight.
Why this rating
Large sample size (N=508), validated measures, and statistically significant interaction effects, though limited by a homogenous sample and self-report bias.
Source
The Impact of a 3-Month Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention on Psychological Flexibility and Depression
Samantha J. Schram et al. · Behavioral Sciences · 2025
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