Mood and weight loss in a behavioral treatment program

76 obese patients (average age 40 yrs) participating in 2 consecutive behavioral treatment programs completed either the Symptom Check List (SCL-90) and a mood scale (Program A) or the SCL-90, a mood scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Program B). Weight losses averaged 12.2 lbs (5.55 kg) during the 10-wk program. Positive changes in mood were reported during this interval, and these changes appeared to be related to changes in weight. There was no evidence that Ss with juvenile-onset obesity had more negative reactions to dieting than Ss with adult-onset obesity or that dropping out was a response to increased depression. Pretreatment mood measures were not linearly related to success in the program, but evidence of a nonlinear relationship was observed. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).