Losing weight with well-being - an online intervention based on positive psychology for women — ASN Events
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  3. Losing weight with well-being - an online intervention based on positive psychology for women

Losing weight with well-being - an online intervention based on positive psychology for women (#664)

Marta Fonseca 1 , Filipa M Vieira 1 , Raquel Barbosa 1
  1. University of Porto, Porto, PORTO, Portugal

Background

 Given the problem of the prevalence of obesity, with all the consequences on mental and physical health, and the lack of effective long-term treatment strategies, with my clinical experience and my studies, I took the challenge to design an online intervention based on Positive Psychology for women. With the positive results, I decided to test it in a Ph.D. program so I could contribute on building a solution to promote health and well-being with efficiency, effectiveness, and accessibility.

Aims

To show and share with coleagues the positive results of the intervention designed to help women lose weight while regaining health, self-esteem, happiness and self-efficacy regarding their body throughout a new and healthy relationship with food.

Method

12-week online group program based on positive psychology to enhance well-being, mindfulness, and self-development to stop emotional eating so women can lose weight in a natural and healthy way, without diet or hunger. The program has online classes for psychoeducation, on the topics (healthy diet, self-care, mindfulness, mindset, emotions management etc), and group support through whatsapp and weekly online group session with the health professional. 

Results

 The participants lose weight gradually without focusing on blaming, shaming, or criticizing, but instead, feeling empowered and self-confident and the results are sustainable in the long-term due to the real psychological changes.

Conclusion

 Positive psychology has a methodology and strategies to enhance well-being, with health outcomes, that are effective in the long-term with online interventions, that can be an alternative to weight management treatment.

 

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  3. Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2018). Advances and open questions in the science of subjective well-being. Collabra Psychol. 2018;4(1). pii:15. Epub 2018 May 24.
  4. Orbach, S. (2006). Fat Is a Feminist Issue. London: Arrow Books.
  5. Seligman, M. & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive Psychology. An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5-14.
  6. Seligman, M. (2002) Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realise your Potential for Lasting Fulfilment. John Murray Press. Edição do Kindle.
  7. Seligman, M. E. P., Parks, A. C., & Steen, T. (2004). A balanced psychology and a full life. Biological Sciences, 359(1449), 1379–1381.
  • Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content: Health and Medicine, Mindfulness, Online / Virtual
  • If you indicated that you would like to be considered for an Apply Presentation, please select your presentation sub-category below: Intensive program analysis and description
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