Effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting weight stigma: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To test the effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for weight bias internalization (WBI; i.e., self-stigma) combined with behavioral weight loss (BWL).

METHOD

Adults with obesity and elevated WBI were randomly assigned to BWL alone or combined with the Weight Bias Internalization and Stigma Program (BWL + BIAS). Participants attended weekly group meetings for 12 weeks, followed by 2 biweekly and 2 monthly meetings (26 weeks total). Changes at Week 12 on the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS) and Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) were the principal outcomes, with changes at Week 26 assessed as secondary outcomes. Other outcomes included changes in mood, body image, eating behaviors, self-monitoring, and weight.

RESULTS

Seventy-two participants were randomized (84.7% female, 66.7% Black, mean age = 47.1 ± 11.5 years) Linear mixed models showed no significant differences between the BWL + BIAS and BWL groups in WBIS changes at Week 12 (-1.3 ± 0.2 vs. -1.0 ± 0.2) or week 26 (-1.5 ± 0.2 vs. -1.3 ± 0.2). BWL + BIAS participants had greater reductions in WSSQ total scores at Week 12 (p = .03), with greater changes on the self-devaluation subscale at Weeks 12 and 26 (p ≤ .03). BWL + BIAS participants reported significantly greater benefits on measures of eating and self-monitoring. Percent weight loss at Week 26 did not differ significantly between groups (BWL + BIAS = -4.5 ± 1.0%, BWL = -5.9 ± 1.0%, p = .28).

CONCLUSION

A psychological intervention for WBI produced short-term reductions in some aspects of weight self-stigma in persons with obesity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Changes in health-related quality of life with intensive behavioural therapy combined with liraglutide 3.0 mg per day

This study examined the effects of intensive behavioural therapy (IBT) for obesity (IBT-alone), IBT plus liraglutide 3.0 mg/day (IBT-liraglutide), and IBT-liraglutide combined with 12 weeks of a portion-controlled diet (Multicomponent) on changes in general health-related (HR) quality of life (QoL) and weight-related QoL. Adults with obesity (79.3% female; 54.0% white; 44.7% black; mean age = 47.6 ± 11.8 years and body mass index = 38.4 ± 4.9 kg/m² ) were randomized to IBT-alone (n = 50), IBT-liraglutide (n = 50) or Multicomponent (n = 50). General HRQoL was measured with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and weight-related QoL was assessed with the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite scale. At week 52, participants in the three groups lost 6.1 ± 1.3%, 11.5 ± 1.3% and 11.8 ± 1.3% of initial body weight, respectively. Both liraglutide-treated groups were significantly more likely than IBT-alone to achieve clinically meaningful improvements in total weight-related QoL. They also both achieved greater improvements than IBT-alone in weight-related public distress and in general mental health, as measured by the SF-36 mental component summary score. Independent of treatment group, greater categorical weight loss was associated with greater improvements in several domains of both general and weight-related QoL. The addition of liraglutide to IBT appeared to improve aspects of both general HRQoL and weight-related QoL.

Effects of Liraglutide and Behavioral Weight Loss on Food Cravings, Eating Behaviors, and Eating Disorder Psychopathology

OBJECTIVE

This exploratory analysis examined the effects of intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) for obesity ("IBT-alone"), IBT plus liraglutide 3.0 mg/d ("IBT-liraglutide"), and IBT plus liraglutide 3.0 mg/d plus 12 weeks of a portion-controlled diet that provided 1,000 to 1,200 kcal/d ("Multicomponent") on changes in food cravings, eating behaviors, and eating disorder psychopathology at 24 and 52 weeks post randomization.

METHODS

Adults with obesity (mean age = 47.6 ± 11.8 years and BMI = 38.4 ± 4.9 kg/m² ; 79.3% female; 54.0% non-Hispanic white; 44.7% black) were randomized to IBT-alone (n = 50), IBT-liraglutide (n = 50), or Multicomponent (n = 50).

RESULTS

At weeks 24 and 52, liraglutide-treated groups reported significantly larger declines in weight concern relative to the IBT-alone group. At week 24, compared with IBT-alone, liraglutide-treated groups reported significantly greater reductions in dietary disinhibition, global eating disorder psychopathology, and shape concern. The Multicomponent group had significantly greater reductions in binge eating at week 24 relative to the IBT-alone group. However, differences among groups were no longer significant at week 52. Groups did not differ in total food cravings at week 24 or 52.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of liraglutide and IBT was associated with greater short-term improvements in dietary disinhibition, global eating disorder psychopathology, and shape concern than IBT alone.

Effects of liraglutide plus phentermine in adults with obesity following 1 year of treatment by liraglutide alone: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial

BACKGROUND

This pilot study evaluated whether adding phentermine to liraglutide would induce further weight loss in participants who had previously lost weight with liraglutide alone.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Participants were 45 adults with obesity (75.6% female, 55.6% white, body mass index = 34.3 ± 4.7 kg/m²) who had lost an average of 12.6 ± 6.8% of initial weight during a prior 1-year randomized trial with liraglutide and intensive behavioral treatment. Participants were re-randomized, in a double-blinded fashion, to liraglutide 3.0 mg plus phentermine 15.0 mg (liraglutide-phentermine) or liraglutide plus placebo (liraglutide-placebo). Participants also were provided with four, 15-minute counseling sessions during the 12-week extension study.

RESULTS

At week 12, the liraglutide-phentermine and liraglutide-placebo groups lost a mean (±SEM) of 1.6 ± 0.6% and 0.1 ± 0.5% of re-randomization weight, respectively (p = 0.073). Two (9.1%) liraglutide-phentermine participants and one (4.3%) liraglutide-placebo participant lost ≥5% of re-randomization weight; 19 (86.4%) and 16 (69.9%) participants, respectively, maintained their full weight loss achieved in the prior 1-year trial (p = 0.125). Liraglutide-phentermine participants generally reported larger reductions in hunger and food preoccupation than liraglutide-placebo participants during the first 8 weeks of the extension study.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of liraglutide and phentermine appeared to be well-tolerated but did not produce additional clinically meaningful weight loss in individuals who had already lost 12.6% of initial weight with liraglutide alone.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02911818.

Perceptions of a large amount of food based on binge-eating disorder diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

This study examined what adults with binge-eating disorder (BED) and obesity perceived as the threshold for a large amount of food and how their evaluations compared to ratings by participants with obesity but without BED.

METHOD

This was a cross-sectional study of 150 participants with obesity. BED was assessed using the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns and confirmed via interview. Participants completed the Eating Patterns Questionnaire and Eating Inventory.

RESULTS

Participants with BED had significantly higher thresholds for a large amount of food relative to those without BED. Compared to participants without BED, those with BED had significantly higher thresholds on 13 of the 22 food items. In the overall sample, being male and having higher hunger scores were associated with greater thresholds.

DISCUSSION

Individuals with obesity and BED had larger portion standards than participants without BED. Individuals with BED may benefit from interventions targeted toward decreasing perceptions of portion sizes.

Weight Bias Internalization Is Negatively Associated With Weight-Related Quality of Life in Persons Seeking Weight Loss

Research has shown a negative relationship between weight bias internalization (WBI) and general measures of health-related quality of life (QOL), such as the Short Form–36. Less is known about the impact of WBI on weight-specific domains of QOL. This study examined the relationship between WBI and weight-related QOL, as measured by the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL-Lite) scale. Participants were 178 adults with obesity [71.3% black, 87.6% female, mean body mass index (BMI) = 40.9 ± 5.9 kg/m²] enrolled in a weight loss trial testing the effects of lorcaserin on weight loss maintenance. At baseline, participants completed the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS), the IWQOL-Lite and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, to assess symptoms of depression). Total scores for the IWQOL-Lite and its five subscales (Physical Function, Self-Esteem, Sexual Life, Public Distress and Work) were calculated. Linear regression analyses showed that WBIS scores were associated with the IWQOL-Lite total score and all subscales above and beyond the effects of demographic variables, BMI, and depressive symptoms (beta values = -0.18 to -0.70, p values < 0.019). The relationship between WBIS and the IWQOL-Lite scales did not differ by gender or race. WBI was associated with mental and physical aspects of weight-related QOL in a predominantly black and female treatment-seeking sample of patients with obesity. Prioritizing the development of interventions to reduce WBI may be important for improving weight-related QOL.

A randomized controlled trial of lorcaserin and lifestyle counselling for weight loss maintenance: changes in emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and appetite

Anti-obesity medication may help people maintain diet-induced reductions in appetite. The present exploratory analysis assessed the effects of lorcaserin on changes at 24 weeks post-randomization in emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and other measures of appetite (i.e. binge eating, cognitive restraint, disinhibition, hunger, preoccupation with eating and fullness). The parent study investigated the efficacy of combined lorcaserin and behavioural treatment in facilitating weight loss maintenance (WLM) in 137 adults (mean age = 46.1 years, 86.1% female, 68.6% black) who had lost ≥5% of initial weight during a 14-week, low-calorie diet (LCD) run-in. Participants were randomly assigned to lorcaserin or placebo and were provided with group WLM counselling sessions. Emotion- and stress-related eating, food cravings and appetite were measured at the start of the LCD (week -14), randomization (0) and week 24. From randomization, lorcaserin-treated participants had significantly greater improvements in emotion- and stress-related eating compared to placebo-treated participants (P = 0.04). However, groups did not differ significantly after randomization in changes in the frequency of food cravings, binge eating or other measures of appetite (Ps > 0.05). Compared to placebo, lorcaserin may improve emotion- and stress-related eating.

Short- and Long-Term Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life with Weight Loss: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of weight loss and weight loss maintenance (WLM) on weight-specific health-related quality of life in a 66-week trial.

METHODS

Adults with obesity (N = 137, 86.1% female, 68.6% black, mean age = 46.1 years) who had lost ≥ 5% of initial weight in a 14-week intensive lifestyle intervention/low-calorie diet (LCD) program were randomly assigned to lorcaserin or placebo for an additional 52-week WLM program. The Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) scale (including five subscales), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression), and Perceived Stress Scale were administered at the start of the 14-week LCD program, randomization, and week 52 of the randomized controlled trial (i.e., 66 weeks total).

RESULTS

Significant improvements in all outcomes, except weight-related public distress, were found following the 14-week LCD program (P values < 0.05). Improvements were largely maintained during the 52-week randomized controlled trial, despite weight regain of 2.0 to 2.5 kg across treatment groups. Participants who lost ≥ 10% of initial weight achieved greater improvements in physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, and the IWQOL-Lite total score than those who lost < 5% and did not differ from those who lost 5% to 9.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvements in weight-specific health-related quality of life were achieved with moderate weight loss and were sustained during WLM.

A Randomized Trial of Lorcaserin and Lifestyle Counseling for Maintaining Weight Loss Achieved with a Low-Calorie Diet

OBJECTIVE

Improving the maintenance of lost weight remains a critical challenge, which can be addressed by long-term behavioral and/or pharmacological interventions.

METHODS

This study investigated the efficacy of combined behavioral and pharmacological treatment in facilitating weight loss maintenance (WLM) in 137 adults (86.1% female; 68.6% black; BMI = 37.0 ± 5.6 kg/m² ) who had lost ≥ 5% of initial weight during a 14-week low-calorie diet (LCD) program (mean = 9.3 ± 2.9%). Participants were randomly assigned to lorcaserin (10 mg twice a day) or placebo and were provided 16 group WLM counseling sessions over 52 weeks.

RESULTS

At 24 weeks post randomization, more lorcaserin-treated than placebo-treated participants maintained a ≥ 5% loss (73.9% vs. 57.4%; P = 0.033), and the lorcaserin-treated participants lost an additional 2.4 ± 0.8 kg versus a 0.6 ± 0.8 kg gain for placebo (P = 0.010). However, at week 52, groups did not differ on either co-primary outcome; 55.1% and 42.6%, respectively, maintained ≥ 5% loss (P = 0.110), with gains from randomization of 2.0 ± 0.8 kg and 2.5 ± 0.8 kg (P = 0.630), respectively. From the start of the LCD, groups maintained reductions of 7.8% and 6.6%, respectively (P = 0.318).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined behavioral and pharmacological treatment produced clinically meaningful long-term weight loss in this group of predominantly black participants. Lorcaserin initially improved upon weight loss achieved with WLM counseling, but this advantage was not maintained at 1 year.