title: Psychosocial predictors of emotional eating and their weight-loss treatment-induced changes in women with obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at assessing whether psychosocial predictors of controlled eating and weight loss also predict emotional eating, and how differing weight-loss treatment methods affect those variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with obesity (M = 47.8 ± 7.9 years; BMI = 35.4 ± 3.3 kg/m(2)) were randomized into groups of either phone-supported self-help (Self-Help; n = 50) or in-person contact (Personal Contact; n = 53) intended to increase exercise, improve eating behaviors, and reduce weight over 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A multiple regression analysis indicated that at baseline mood, self-regulating eating, body satisfaction, and eating-related self-efficacy significantly predicted emotional eating (R (2) = 0.35), with mood and self-efficacy as independent predictors. Improvements over 6 months on each psychosocial measure were significantly greater in the Personal Contact group. Changes in mood, self-regulation, body satisfaction, and self-efficacy significantly predicted emotional eating change (R (2) = 0.38), with all variables except self-regulation change being an independent predictor. Decreased emotional eating was significantly associated with weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that weight-loss interventions should target specific psychosocial factors to improve emotional eating. The administration of cognitive-behavioral methods through personal contact might be more beneficial for those improvements than self-help formats.
authors.affiliation: Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia. jamesa@ymcaatlanta.org.|YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Avenue NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA. jamesa@ymcaatlanta.org.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Annesi
authors.affiliation: Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mareno
authors.affiliation: YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Avenue NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McEwen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000068356:Self-Control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Body satisfaction; Emotional eating; Mood; Self-efficacy; Self-regulation