Research
Adherence
Behavioral weight management programs (BWMPs) involving diet and/or exercise do not harm mental health despite common weight regain, and may improve specific mental health dimensions (psychological wellbeing, self-esteem, depression, anxiety) at and after program end.
If you are doing a weight loss program, don't worry if you regain some weight; it doesn't mean your mental health will suffer. In fact, these programs often improve your self-esteem, anxiety, and overall wellbeing, even after the program ends. Focus on the behavioral changes and mental health benefits, not just the scale.
StrongRefutesHIGH confidence
Despite weight regain after BWMPs, our meta-analyses found no evidence of mental health harm and some evidence that BWMPs may improve some dimensions of mental health at and after programme-end.
Why this rating
Systematic review with meta-analyses of 47 randomized controlled trials.
Source
Weight regain and mental health outcomes following behavioural weight management programmes: A systematic review with meta‐analyses
Annika Theodoulou et al. · Clinical Obesity · 2023
Meta-analysis · 47 studiesCited 5×
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →