Positive and negative effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on mental health and psychological flexibility in individuals with overweight

The purpose of this study was to examine effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on mental health and psychological flexibility in individuals with overweight.

The present study was administered with a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, follow up and control group. Statistical society included all of individuals with overweight that were clients of nutrition clinics and sport clubs of Esfahan city, in 2014 that among them 40 persons selected by convenience sampling and assigned randomly in one experimental group (n=20) and one control group (n=20). 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy (each of them was 2 houres) performed for experimental group while control group received no intervention. General Health Questionnair-12 (GHQ-12) and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight related problems (AAQW) used as the instruments of the study in pre-test, post test and follow up stages for two groups. Data analyzed through ancova and mann- witney u test.

Results showed that cognitive behavioral therapy caused to significant improvement of mental health and reduction of psychological flexibility in post-test. These effects maintained in follow up stage.

Based on the results of this study, cognitive behavioral therapy can considered as an efficient intervention to improvement of mental health in individuals with overweight. However Based on the results of this study, the claim of acceptance and commitment therapy approach confirmed as reduction of psychological flexibility in procedure of cognitive behavioral therapy.