January 2006: Behavior Therapy and Obesity

In the past 20 to 25 years, obesity has doubled in the United States, causing the prevalence of other diseases to rise as well. Many fad diets and weight loss treatments have been studied, with one possible treatment being behavior therapy. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity recommend intervention for all obese individuals, as well as for those who are overweight with two or more weight related comorbidities. Two such interventions are Behavior Therapy and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT), which many believe are interchangeable, however there are some differences between the two. This study simply compares the two methods, explaining each type of therapy in detail. No conclusions are drawn to determine which one is most effective. The primary focus of behavior therapy is behavioral change, while the primary focus of CBT is cognitive change. Both interventions have been shown to be effective, leaving many to wonder which is more effective in fighting against obesity. Studies have yet to determine which intervention therapy is most effective for obese and overweight individuals.

Fabricatore, A. N. (2006). Behavior Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy of Obesity: Is there a difference? Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(1): 92-99.