The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Patients with Obesity after Intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—A Case-Control Study

Calugi, S.; Andreoli, B.; Dametti, L.; Dalle Grave, A.; Morandini, N.; Dalle Grave, R.

Abstract

Background: The COVID‐19 lockdown may have negatively impacted the treatment of obesity. This study aimed to assess the effect of COVID‐19 lockdown in patients with obesity treated with intensive residential cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT‐OB). Methods: This retrospective case‐ control study analyzed 129 patients with severe obesity who experienced COVID‐19 lockdown in the 6 months after discharge from intensive residential CBT‐OB, comparing their outcomes on weight loss, binge‐eating episodes, and general health status with those in a sample of patients matched by gender, age, and body mass index given the same treatment before the COVID‐19 outbreak as control. Patients were assessed at baseline and by phone interview 6‐month follow‐up. Results: Both groups had lost more than 9% of their baseline bodyweight and reported a significant decrease in binge‐eating episodes and similar general health status at 6‐month follow‐up. However, control patients achieved a significantly greater weight loss than those who experienced lockdown, although half of lockdown patients reported persisting with CBT‐OB procedures after their discharge. Conclusion: Patients with obesity treated with CBT‐OB and exposed to COVID‐19 lockdown, despite achieving lower weight loss than non‐exposed patients, had a healthy weight loss at 6‐month follow‐up and comparable reduction in binge‐eating behaviors.

Keywords: lockdown; cognitive behavioral therapy; treatment outcomes; COVID‐19; isolation

Calugi, S.; Andreoli, B.; Dametti, L.; Dalle Grave, A.; Morandini, N.; Dalle Grave, R. The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Patients with Obesity after Intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—A Case-Control Study. Nutrients 2021, 13, doi:10.3390/nu13062021.

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