AN EVALUATION OF WEIGHT-REDUCTION TREATMENTS AND ANXIETY LEVELS AMONG OBESE ADULTS
Abstract
The two major objectives of this research were to determine which group--(I) Behavior and Group Therapy, (II) Social Pressure, or (III) Control Group--was best suited to change the undesirable overeating habits of obese subjects, and to determine the relationship of state and trait anxiety to significant and nonsignificant weight change. Subjects' subcutaneous fat and height and weight were recorded. Forms X1 and X2 of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered along with a specially prepared research questionnaire I. Random selection was employed to divide the forty-five adult subjects equally into three groups of fifteen each and place them in Treatments I, II, or III. Individual group sessions are detailed. Included is a chronicle of each treatment group. At the end of ten weeks' treatment, the mean weight loss was 7.98 pounds, and the mean percentage of body weight lost was 4.08%. A simple one-way analysis of variance indicated that there were no significant differences at the .05 level (p = .77). A t-test indicated that state anxiety levels did not differ at pre-treatment and post-treatment times for any of the three treatments. The same is true for trait anxiety in Treatment I. Trait anxiety was significantly different (p < .05), decreasing in Treatments II and III (p = .046 and p = .015, respectively). For nonsignificant weight losers and state and trait anxiety levels, there are no significant differences. The same can be said for significant losers and the state anxiety level. For significant losers (five pounds or more) a t-test demonstrates the trait anxiety pre-treatment (36.6) and post-treatment (33.2) differed significantly (p < .01). This is a reduction of trait anxiety as measured by the S.T.A.I. The research indicates that there will probably be no significant differences in amounts of weight lost between varying treatments. It is likely state anxiety levels do not change for subjects beginning and completing group treatment for weight reduction. There is a strong possibility that those individuals who lose significant amounts of weight have a reduction in their trait anxiety levels at post-treatment evaluation.
Recommended Citation
Axelrood, Helen Blau, "AN EVALUATION OF WEIGHT-REDUCTION TREATMENTS AND ANXIETY LEVELS AMONG OBESE ADULTS" (1981). Dissertations (1962 - 2010) Access via Proquest Digital Dissertations. AAI8211432.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations/AAI8211432