Mood, Weight, and Physical Activity Among Obese Individuals Enrolled In a Long-term Weight-loss Program: Trajectories and Associations with Gender.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the trajectories of mood, weight and physical activity, and associations between mood, weight, and gender, among 213 obese individuals.  METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal design. Assessments at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months of Profile of Mood States, Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire, and weight.  RESULTS: Total mood disturbance decreased from baseline to 6 months, with no change thereafter. Weight decreased from baseline to 6 to 12 months, and increased from 12 to 18 months. Physical activity increased from baseline to 6 months, and 12 to 18 months. Increased physical activity predicted greater vigor and less fatigue over time. Females high in distress at 6 months lost less weight than females low in distress and at 18 months gained more weight than those low in distress. There were no such associations among males.  CONCLUSION: The trajectories of mood, weight and physical activity were synchronous only in the short-term. Distress monitoring, targeted to females who relapse, may be warranted.
School of Social Work, University of Washington.
Shelby L
SL
Langer
Andrew P
AP
Flood
Ericka M
EM
Welsh
Rona L
RL
Levy
Melanie A
MA
Jaeb
Patricia S
PS
Laqua
Anne Marie
AM
Hotop
Nathan R
NR
Mitchell
Robert W
RW
Jeffery