Conclusions
obesity, overweight, weight loss
OBESITY
Our study is the first one to prospectively investigate the role of stress-related eating behaviour on the weight reduction effect of comprehensive healthy lifestyle intervention programs using standardized and validated instruments and assessing key variables of eating behaviour. Our data confirm the assumption that overweight is associated with higher levels of perceived stress as well as emotional and external eating and suggest that the Healthy Lifestyle Community Program (HLCP, cohort 1) may reduce the same, and increases dietary restraint. The impact of these changes on weight loss have to be further explored. Our findings underline the need to consider stress-associated eating behaviour in holistic weight loss interventions to account for the complex association of chronic stress, overweight, and obesity.