Depressed women can lose weight successfully just like others

Washington, December 2 (ANI): Women with major depression can lose the same amount of weight as other women without the condition, says a study.

Group Health Research Institute Senior Research Associate Evette J. Ludman found that depressed women were no less likely to have successful results with a weight loss program.

The lead researcher said: "We expected women with major depression to lose less weight, attend fewer sessions, eat more calories, and get less exercise than those without depression.

"We were surprised to find no significant differences between the women who had depression and those who did not have it."

She added: "Instead, what made a difference was just showing up."

The study found that women who attended at least 12 sessions lost more weight than those who attended fewer sessions, regardless of whether they had depression.

The article was published in the Winter 2009 Behavioral Medicine. (ANI)