Effect of weight reduction on quality of life and eating behaviors in obese women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of a 3-week weight-reducing program on body composition, physical condition, health-related quality of life, and eating behaviors of sedentary, obese (body mass index, 29-35 kg/m) women, according to menopausal status and menopause duration (<5, >or=5, and >or=10 y).


METHODS
Thirteen premenopausal and 27 postmenopausal women received a dietary plan of 1,400 +/- 200 kcal/day and completed 110-minute endurance exercise 6 days per week. Body mass index, fat mass, lean mass, distance walked in the Six-Minute Walk Test, health-related quality of life estimated by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and eating behaviors (restriction, disinhibition, and susceptibility to hunger) assessed by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire were determined before and after weight reduction.


RESULTS
Body mass index and fat mass decreased (P < 0.0001), whereas distance walked increased in both groups after weight reduction (P < 0.001). Although the SF-36 mental component score increased after weight loss in both groups (P < 0.0001), the SF-36 physical component score increased in postmenopausal women only (P < 0.001). Restriction increased (P < 0.0001), whereas disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger decreased after weight reduction (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) in both groups. Distance walked and SF-36 physical component score after weight loss were higher in women whose menopause ranged between 5 and 9 years and exceeded 10 years, respectively (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that a short-term weight-reducing program combining caloric restriction and physical activity has a favorable impact on women's body composition, physical condition, health-related quality of life, and eating behaviors irrespective of their menopausal status.
Lemoine
Sophie
S
UFR STAPS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
Rossell
Nadia
N
Drapeau
Vicky
V
Poulain
Magali
M
Garnier
Sophie
S
Sanguignol
Frédéric
F
Mauriège
Pascale
P
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D016387:Women's Health