Weight loss strategies, stress, and cognitive function: supervised versus unsupervised dieting.
The early stages of dieting to lose weight have been associated with neuro-psychological impairments. Previous work has not elucidated whether these impairments are a function solely of unsupported or supported dieting. Raised cortico-steroid levels have been implicated as a possible causal mechanism. Healthy, overweight, pre-menopausal women were randomised to one of three conditions in which they dieted either as part of a commercially available weight loss group, dieted without any group support or acted as non-dieting controls for 8 weeks. Testing occurred at baseline and at 1, 4 and 8 weeks post baseline. During each session, participants completed measures of simple reaction time, motor speed, vigilance, immediate verbal recall, visuo-spatial processing and (at Week 1 only) executive function. Cortisol levels were gathered at the beginning and 30 min into each test session, via saliva samples. Also, food intake was self-recorded prior to each session and fasting body weight and percentage body fat were measured at each session. Participants in the unsupported diet condition displayed poorer vigilance performance (p = 0.001) and impaired executive planning function (p = 0.013) (along with a marginally significant trend for poorer visual recall (p = 0.089)) after 1 week of dieting. No such impairments were observed in the other two groups. In addition, the unsupported dieters experienced a significant rise in salivary cortisol levels after 1 week of dieting (p < 0.001). Both dieting groups lost roughly the same amount of body mass (p = 0.011) over the course of the 8 weeks of dieting, although only the unsupported dieters experienced a significant drop in percentage body fat over the course of dieting (p = 0.016). The precise causal nature of the relationship between stress, cortisol, unsupported dieting and cognitive function is, however, uncertain and should be the focus of further research.
Green
Michael W
MW
Neurosciences Research Institute, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. m.w.green@aston.ac.uk
Elliman
Nicola A
NA
Kretsch
Mary J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D015431:Weight Loss
D006854:Hydrocortisone