Shenakht Journal of Psychology & Psychiatry

Introduction: Obesity is an emerging public health issue that is not only associated with physical consequences but also with cognitive changes, such as attentional bias and impaired behavioral inhibition.                                                                                            
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated weight loss program on attentional bias and behavioral inhibition in women with obesity.                                                                                                                                
Method: The present study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest structure and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all obese women who visited the Health Center of Mohaghegh Ardabili University in 2023. Given that a minimum of 15 participants is recommended for experimental research, a total of 30 obese women were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (15 participants) or the control group (15 participants). The experimental group underwent a structured weight loss program consisting of 15 sessions, each lasting 50 minutes on separate days, while the control group received no intervention. Participants were assessed in both the pretest and posttest phases using the Dot Probe and Go/No-Go computerized tasks. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and a multivariate analysis of variance MANOVA approach.            
Results: Based on the findings, the combined weight loss program demonstrated a significant effect on attention bias and behavioral inhibition following the intervention, leading to a reduction in both variables (p < 0.05). The effect sizes for attention bias and behavioral inhibition were 0.875 and 0.773, respectively.                                                                
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the proposed method appears to be applicable in weight loss and lifestyle change programs, with potential implications for improving community health.