Psychological impact of the New Dimensions Reconditioning Program.

Abstract

Background: Obesity is an increasing public health problem in most developed countries including Australia. The New Dimensions Reconditioning (NDR) is a new initiative undertaken by Epworth Healthcare to increase the uptake of healthy lifestyle choices following a range of specialist medical interventions including: bariatric surgery, endocrinology or metabolic clinics. One core element of interdisciplinary approach to life-style management is psychological support. The NDR program is delivered over 12 weeks and includes group and/ or individual sessions with a psychologist to provide participants with psychological support. Method: This was a prospective, longitudinal, repeated measures study. This presentation reports on the changes in the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS 21) at baseline and at completion of the program. Results: Thirty six patients participated in the project, of which 27 completed the pre and post DASS 21. At baseline, eight patients were super obese (BMI > 50kg/m2) and seven were morbidly obese (BMI > 40kg/m2). The majority were females with a median age of 51 years old. The mean post scores were lower for all the DASS 21 subscales: Baseline depression 13.3, anxiety 8.22 and stress 15.19; post depression 10.07, anxiety 7.11 and stress 11.48. There was a significant difference in the pre and post stress scores, p = .035. Following program completion, two less patients were depressed and no patient was extremely stressed. Anxiety score for one patient decreased from severe to moderate. Conclusion: The findings showed that the NDR program had a positive impact on patients’ psychological well-being.