Effect of group schema therapy on physical self-concept and worry about weight and diet among obese women

Obese women have negative physical self-concept and attitude about self .Schema therapy as a new approach in psychological intervention is effective in reduction of negative beliefs, self-concept and worry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of group schema therapy on physical self-concept and worry about weight and diet in women with obesity. This study was a quasi-experimental design using pretest-posttest and control group. Statistical population consists of 186 women who referred to a nutrition and diet therapy clinic and nutrition counseling center. After screening women with obesity, they were asked to fulfill Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) and Worry about Weight and Diet Scale (WWDS). Those who gained high scores in these questionnaires (40 women) selected for study. Among of them 30 women were selected randomly and placed in two experimental and control groups (15 persons in each group). The experimental group received 15 sessions of group schema therapy with 90 minutes per session and control group was in waiting list. Both groups completed PSDQ and WWDS in baseline and final intervention. The results showed that there is a significant difference in terms of physical self- concept and concern about weight and food diet between experimental and control group. Group schema therapy training for women with obesity can lead to improvement of physical self-concept and reduction of worry about weight and food diet.