KYOTO, Japan—Psychological characteristics may contribute to weight loss in obese patients, according to a new study from Doshisha University.
Researchers followed 147 obese patients during a 6-month weight loss program at the Kansai Medical University Hospital Obesity Clinic. The study combined counseling, nutrition and exercise therapy. Patients’ psychosocial characteristics were assessed before and after attending the clinic using psychological questionnaires designed to identify patients’ personality types.
Results revealed that patients who were able to improve their self-awareness through counseling were more likely to lose weight. Optimism and self-orientation characteristics improved for most patients after the program, although this was not related to weight loss. Patients who started the program with high levels of self-orientation and optimistic characteristics were less likely to lose weight.