The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Mindfulness and an Internet Intervention for Obesity: A Case Series

Abstract

It is difficult for obese (body mass index of more than 30) and overweight (body mass index of 25–30) people to reduce and maintain their weight. The aim of this case series was to examine the effectiveness of a new cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program that combines mindfulness exercises (e.g., the raisin exercise and breathing exercises) and an online intervention to prevent dropout and subsequent weight gain in overweight participants. This case series included three participants, for whom previous weight reduction programs had been unsuccessful. All participants completed the program (60-min, group sessions provided weekly for 9 weeks) and an 18-month follow-up assessment. Results showed that all participants succeeded in losing weight (loss ranged from 5.30 to 8.88% of their total body weight). Although rebound weight gain is commonly observed in the first year following initial weight loss, the follow-up assessment showed that participants achieved further weight loss during the 18-month follow-up period. These results suggest that a CBT program that comprises mindfulness and an online intervention may be an effective method for weight loss and maintenance, and may prevent dropout in obese and overweight individuals.Trial Registration: This case series was registered at www.umin.ac.jp with identifier UMIN000029664.

Creating Healthy Change in the Preconception Period for Women with Overweight or Obesity: A Qualitative Study Using the Information–Motivation–Behavioural Skills Model

“…Mindfulness-based interventions may have particular relevance for obesity with a meta-analysis suggesting benefit for improving both psychological health and eating behaviours [ 70 ]. Likewise, open trial and case series evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) [ 71 ] and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) [ 28 ] can provide useful adjuncts to other behavioural techniques for weight management. However, few studies exist that assess these techniques when delivered via digital health intervention.…”

The Effectiveness of Supportive Psychotherapy in Weight Loss in a Group of Young Overweight and Obese Women

“…Not only did all the participants succeed in losing weight during the 9-week experiment, but they also achieved further weight reduction in the 18-month follow-up. However, a few limitations in the experimental setup—mainly, the small group of participants (3) and lack of a control group—prevented the authors from drawing unequivocal conclusions from the study [ 28 ]. In general, most of the reports presenting the use of combined therapy involving BT, a diet, and/or exercises in obesity treatment show greater weight loss than in the case of any of these strategies being used alone [ 27 ].…”

“…For this reason, more and more psychologists, psychotherapists, and dieticians believe that overweight and obesity are a consequence of eating disorders and that psychotherapy should be included in the fight against them [ 15 , 18 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Among several psychotherapeutic approaches proposed for the treatment of obesity, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and different forms of behavioural therapy (BT) are the most preferred ones [ 15 , 18 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. CBT has proven its short-term efficacy in treating eating disorders that may be the underlying causes of obesity, such as emotional eating or binge eating disorder [ 27 , 30 ].…”

“…CBT has proven its short-term efficacy in treating eating disorders that may be the underlying causes of obesity, such as emotional eating or binge eating disorder [ 27 , 30 ]. However, the results demonstrating its effectiveness in weight reduction and long-term weight-loss maintenance remain inconclusive, mainly because of non-homogeneous therapeutic strategies [ 15 , 28 ]. Additionally, little is known about the efficacy of other psychotherapeutic approaches in reducing/maintaining normal body weight.…”

Challenges and New Directions in Obesity Management: Lifestyle Modification Programmes, Pharmacotherapy and Bariatric Surgery

“…In fact, well-developed and manual-based lifestyle modification programmes are now available and require a relatively short period of training. [8][9][10][11][12] Moreover, health professionals should be aware that lifestyle modification programmes, for patients indicating "non-response," can be combined with recently approved anti-obesity drugs such as liraglutide, naltrexone/bupropion, lorcaserin and phentermine/topiramate, 13,14 as well as with relatively less invasive bariatric surgery techniques such as Lap Band, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and gastric bypass. 15 However, the non-reversibility of, and the certain risk involved in, some surgical techniques within this therapeutic option should be clearly discussed, 16 as should the fact that patients are not immune from weight regain in the long term.…”