title: Dance therapy combined with patient education improves quality of life of persons with obesity: A pilot feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: To assess the effect of dance therapy combined with patient education on quality of life, functional capacity (lower limb power and endurance) and physical activity level in obese individuals.
  
  
  
  Thirty-three obese patients were randomised to a control group (structured patient education ambulatory program), and 34 to an intervention group (structured patient education ambulatory program combined with weekly sessions of dance therapy). Patients' quality of life, physical function and physical activity level were assessed at baseline and after 16 weeks.
  
  
  
  Almost only women were willing to enrol in the study. Participants of the intervention group significantly improved their quality of life (p=0.023), and particularly self-esteem (p=0.014). However, dance therapy added to a patient educational program did not produce statistically significant higher effects than a patient education program alone on functional capacities and patients' physical activity level.
  
  
  
  A 16 week structured patient educational program combined with dance therapy seems to have a positive effect on the quality of life of obese people, but no effect on functional capacities and physical activity.
  
  
  
  Dance therapy combined with structured patient education is an interesting approach to improve quality of life of obese people.
authors.affiliation: University of Geneva, Medical Faculty, Department of Community Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Physiotherapy, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: lara.allet@hesge.ch.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allet
authors.affiliation: Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre, Department of Community Medicine, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller-Pinget
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Physiotherapy, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Punt
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Willy Taillard Laboratory of Kinesiology, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edelsten
authors.affiliation: University of Geneva, Medical Faculty, Department of Community Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballif
authors.affiliation: Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre, Department of Community Medicine, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golay
authors.affiliation: Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre, Department of Community Medicine, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pataky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003614:Dance Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: Dance therapy; Functional capacities; Obesity; Physical activity; Quality of life