Improvement in Body Image, Perceived Health, and Health-Related Self-Efficacy Among People With Serious Mental Illness: The STRIDE Study

Abstract

Objective: The authors examined secondary outcomes of STRIDE, a randomized controlled trial that tested a weight-loss and lifestyle intervention for individuals taking antipsychotic medications.

Methods: Hierarchical linear regression was used to explore the effects of the intervention and weight change at follow-up (six, 12, and 24 months) on body image, perceived health, and health-related self-efficacy.

Results: Participants were 200 adults who were overweight and taking antipsychotic agents. Weight change × study arm interaction was associated with significant improvement in body image from baseline to six months. From baseline to 12 months, body image scores of intervention participants improved by 1.7 points more compared with scores of control participants; greater weight loss was associated with more improvement. Between baseline and 24 months, greater weight loss was associated with improvements in body image, perceived health, and health-related self-efficacy.

Conclusions: Participation in STRIDE improved body image, and losing weight improved perceived health and health-related self-efficacy.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00790517.

Figures

FIGURE 1.. Effects of weight change × study arm interaction on body image at six-month follow-upa

a Individuals in the intervention group who lost more weight showed greater improvement in body image (p=.002), as measured by the Body Weight, Image and Self-Esteem Evaluation (possible scores range from 12 to 36, with higher scores indicating better psychosocial adjustment to weight gain).