Women who feel good about their body shape find it easier than others to lose weight, according to Portuguese researchers.
Body image and "emotional eating" were among topics used to help women in a programme tested over a 12 month period.
The course contributed to an average weight loss of five per cent over the year, according to the researchers at the Technical University of Lisbon.
Working with Dr David Markland, of Bangor University, Wales, UK, the researchers tested the project on more than 200 women.
Half the women underwent the body image course, involving 30 weekly group sessions, while the other half were given information about good diet, stress management and the importance of taking care of themselves.
In total the body image course led to an average drop in weight of seven per cent – compared with just two per cent lost by the other women, the researchers report in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Researcher Dr Pedro Teixeira, from Lisbon, said: "Body image problems are very common amongst overweight and obese people, often leading to comfort eating and more rigid eating patterns, and are obstacles to losing weight.
"Our results showed a strong correlation between improvements in body image, especially in reducing anxiety about other peoples’ opinions, and positive changes in eating behaviour.
"From this we believe that learning to relate to your body in healthier ways is an important aspect of maintaining weight loss and should be addressed in every weight control programme.”
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