Regaining weight for emotional reasons: relationship with behavioural self-regulation and weight loss strategy use

Abstract

Background: Many popular weight loss methods encourage the use of self-regulatory strategies such as goal-setting and self-monitoring; use of such strategies has been linked to improved weight outcomes in the short- and long-term. Difficulties in emotion regulation are associated with binge eating and may undermine successful weight loss and maintenance. The relationship between behavioural and emotion regulation in weight management, however, remains unclear. Methods: Two-thousand adults from UK, Portugal, and Denmark completed an online survey assessing self-reported weight loss and regain, and strategy use. As a proxy for emotion regulation, respondents were asked if their regain was attributable to any of six emotional reasons (e.g., feeling stressed/emotionally drained, comfort eating). Regression analyses (controlling for age, gender, binge eating status) were used to determine the relationship between strategy use and emotion regulation. Findings: Amongst the 1310 respondents who had lost a clinically significant amount of weight (>5%), a significant positive relationship between emotional reasons and self-reported regain was observed. Greater endorsement of emotional reasons was also associated with using more self-regulatory and dietary strategies in the previous weight loss attempt. Discussion: Emotion regulation difficulties are related to less successful weight loss maintenance over and above the influence of binge-eating. People who experience emotion regulation difficulties are already making frequent use of self-regulatory and other strategies. Potential explanations for this relationship will be discussed. Simply encouraging the use of more numerous strategies without concurrently teaching emotion regulation skills may not be an effective means to improving weight outcomes in this group.