Researchers are testing whether a type of therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help women with obesity feel better about themselves and stick to their diets. The study involves 120 women who will either receive weekly therapy sessions plus a personalized diet plan, or just the diet plan alone. Over 12 weeks, researchers will measure how well women follow their diets and track changes in their body composition. This research matters because many people with obesity struggle with negative feelings about their weight, which can make it harder to stay committed to healthy eating. If the therapy helps, it could become a standard part of weight loss programs.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether adding therapy sessions to a weight loss diet helps women stick to their diet better and feel less ashamed about their weight
  • Who participated: 120 adult women with obesity who will be randomly split into two groups
  • Key finding: This is a study plan, not yet completed results. Researchers will measure whether women who get therapy plus diet support do better than those who only get diet support
  • What it means for you: If successful, this research could show that combining mental health support with diet plans works better than diet alone. However, results won’t be available until the study is finished

The Research Details

This is a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest types of research. Researchers will randomly divide 120 women into two equal groups. One group will receive weekly therapy sessions (called cognitive-behavioral therapy) for 90 minutes each week for 12 weeks, plus a personalized diet plan. The other group will only receive the personalized diet plan without therapy. By randomly assigning people to groups, researchers can better determine if the therapy itself makes a difference, rather than other factors.

The therapy sessions will be delivered online in a group format, meaning multiple women will participate together. The sessions will focus on helping women change negative thoughts and behaviors related to their weight and eating habits. Researchers will measure results at the start of the study, and then again at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks.

Instead of relying on what people report about their eating, researchers will measure actual changes in body composition—specifically fat mass and muscle mass—which provides more objective evidence of whether women are following their diets.

This research approach is important because it tests whether addressing the emotional and psychological side of weight loss (feeling ashamed or negative about weight) actually helps people stick to their diets better. Previous research suggests that shame and negative self-image can make weight loss harder, but no one has thoroughly tested whether therapy specifically designed to reduce these feelings actually improves diet adherence in women. Using objective body measurements instead of self-reported data makes the results more reliable.

This study has several strengths: it uses random assignment (which reduces bias), includes a control group for comparison, measures outcomes at multiple time points, and uses validated psychological questionnaires. However, because this is a study protocol (the plan before the study happens), we don’t yet have the actual results. The study is relatively small (120 participants), which is appropriate for this type of research but means results may not apply to everyone. The online format is practical but may affect how well women connect with each other in therapy.

What the Results Show

This document describes the study plan, not actual results. The researchers have not yet completed the study or collected data. The study is expected to measure: (1) how well women follow their weight loss diet by tracking changes in fat mass and muscle mass, (2) changes in weight and body measurements, and (3) psychological improvements including reduced shame about weight and better overall mental health.

Once the study is complete, researchers will compare the group that received therapy plus diet support to the group that only received diet support. They will look at whether the therapy group showed better diet adherence, greater weight loss, and more improvement in psychological measures.

The study will track participants for 12 weeks, which is a relatively short timeframe. This allows researchers to see if therapy helps in the short term, but longer follow-up would be needed to see if benefits last.

Beyond the main measurements, researchers will also assess: how much weight-related shame women experience using specific questionnaires, overall mental health and well-being, and whether women internalize negative stereotypes about weight. These psychological measures are important because they help explain whether therapy works by changing how women think and feel about themselves.

Previous research shows that cognitive-behavioral therapy can help with various mental health conditions and that shame about weight is a real barrier to weight loss success. However, this study is novel because it specifically tests whether group-based CBT delivered online improves diet adherence in women with obesity. Most previous weight loss programs focus only on diet and exercise, without addressing the emotional barriers. This research fills a gap by testing whether adding the psychological component actually improves outcomes.

This is a study protocol, so actual limitations will only become clear once data is collected. Potential limitations include: the 12-week timeframe is relatively short to see lasting changes, online therapy may not work as well as in-person sessions for some people, the study only includes women so results may not apply to men, and 120 participants is a modest sample size. Additionally, the study doesn’t include a group that receives therapy alone without diet support, so we won’t know if therapy alone helps with weight loss.

The Bottom Line

This is a study protocol, so formal recommendations cannot be made until results are available. However, the research suggests that combining therapy focused on reducing weight shame with a personalized diet plan may be worth exploring. If you struggle with negative feelings about your weight that interfere with healthy eating, discussing therapy options with your healthcare provider is reasonable. Confidence level: This is preliminary research, so recommendations should be considered exploratory rather than definitive.

This research is most relevant to: women with obesity who struggle with shame or negative feelings about their weight, healthcare providers designing weight loss programs, mental health professionals working with weight management, and anyone interested in how psychology affects weight loss success. This research may be less relevant to people who don’t experience weight-related shame or those seeking quick-fix weight loss solutions.

If therapy helps reduce weight shame and improve diet adherence, benefits might appear within 4-8 weeks based on the study timeline. However, lasting weight loss and sustained behavior change typically take several months to a year. The 12-week study period is too short to determine long-term success.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly adherence to your personalized meal plan by logging meals and noting how many days per week you followed the plan. Also track body measurements (waist, hips, weight) weekly to see objective progress beyond the scale.
  • If using a weight loss app, add a weekly reflection feature where you rate your feelings about your weight and body on a scale of 1-10. This helps identify when negative thoughts are strongest and when they improve, making the connection between mindset and behavior clearer.
  • Create a simple weekly check-in: (1) Rate diet adherence (0-100%), (2) Measure body composition if possible, (3) Note emotional state related to weight, (4) Track any barriers to following the plan. Over 12 weeks, look for patterns showing whether addressing emotional barriers correlates with better diet adherence.

This article describes a research study protocol that has not yet been completed. No clinical results are available yet. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you are considering weight loss treatment or therapy, please consult with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. Cognitive-behavioral therapy should only be pursued under the guidance of a qualified mental health professional. Individual results vary, and what works for research participants may not work for everyone. Always discuss any new health interventions with your doctor before starting.