title: A comparison of a behavioral weight loss program to a stress management program: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared a behavioral weight loss program (BWL) with a stress management-based program, Emotional Brain Training (EBT), on weight loss, blood pressure, depression, perceived stress, diet, and physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of >28 and <45 kg/m(2) were recruited in Lexington, Kentucky in January 2014 and randomized to BWL or EBT for a 20-week intervention. Of those recruited, 49 participants were randomized to EBT or BWL. Randomization and allocation to group were performed using SPSS software. Weight, blood pressure, depression, perceived stress, dietary intake, and physical activity were measured at baseline, 10 week, and 20 week. Linear models for change over time were fit to calculate 95% confidence intervals of intervention effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BWL produced greater changes in BMI than EBT at both 10 (P = 0.02) and 20 wk (P = 0.03). At 10 wk, both EBT and BWL improved BMI, systolic blood pressure, depression and perceived stress (P < 0.05). BWL also improved diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.005). At 20 wk, EBT maintained improvements in BMI, systolic blood pressure, depression, and perceived stress while BWL maintained improvements only in BMI and depression (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BWL produced greater weight loss than EBT; however, EBT produced sustained improvements in stress, depression, and systolic blood pressure. A combination of the two approaches should be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: kelly.webber@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Kelly H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Anselmo, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mellin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Adult; Depression; Obesity; Stress management; Weight loss