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Journals / Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 43 Issue: 3

The effect of exercise added to diet in obesity treatment on psychological outcomes: A study on impulsivity, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal probability

Berçem Afşar Karatepe(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ELAZIĞ FETHİ SEKİN ŞEHİR SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-6772-8827
Gülay Taşcı(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ELAZIĞ FETHİ SEKİN ŞEHİR SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, PSİKİYATRİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-2078-0182
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-09-30
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings suggest that diet-based interventions can have positive effects on psychological well-being as well as physical health indicators.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary intervention on psychological symptoms and to compare these changes between patients who exercised and those who did not.
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Key Findings & Data:A total of 56 patients were included in the study.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings suggest that diet-based interventions can have positive effects on psychological well-being as well as physical health indicators.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Dietary intervention · obesity · body mass index

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary intervention on psychological symptoms and to compare these changes between patients who exercised and those who did not. A total of 56 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42 ± 11.4 years, and the mean body weight was 86.1 ± 13.9 kg. All patients underwent dietary intervention. Patients were also divided into two groups based on their exercise status: those who exercised and those who did not. Waist circumference, Beck Depression Inventory, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Suicide Probability Scale scores were compared before and after the intervention. Waist circumference decreased significantly after the diet [from 94 cm to 86 cm; p<0.001]. Beck Depression Inventory [from 18 to 5.5; A significant decrease was observed in the Beck Hopelessness Scale scores [from 9.5 to 3.5; p<0.001]. The attention, motor, and non-planning subscales and the total score of the Barratt Impulsivity Scale decreased significantly. While a significant decrease was observed in the negative self-evaluation and hostility subscales of the Suicide Probability Scale, no significant change was found in hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and the total score. In the exercise subgroup analysis, waist circumference and depression scores decreased significantly in both groups. In the intergroup comparison, only the change score on the Beck Depression Inventory showed a significant difference. Dietary intervention was associated with significant improvements in depression, hopelessness, and impulsivity levels, along with a decrease in waist circumference. The additional contribution of exercise appears limited in this sample. The findings suggest that diet-based interventions can have positive effects on psychological well-being as well as physical health indicators.

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Cite This Article

Karatepe, B. A., Taşcı, G. (2026). The effect of exercise added to diet in obesity treatment on psychological outcomes: A study on impulsivity, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal probability. Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Volume: 43 Issue: 3. https://ajindex.com/articles/1422493

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