This study examined whether perceived stress predicts the maintenance of changes in eating behavior in participants with overweight and high risk of type 2 diabetes undergoing a 3-year lifestyle intervention. Results showed that perceived stress after the initial behavior change stage did not predict long-term changes. However, frequent high stress during the maintenance phase was associated with a greater lapse in improved flexible restraint. Higher perceived stress at 6 months was associated with less flexible restraint and more disinhibition and hunger throughout the maintenance stage. The study suggests that stress may impair successful weight loss maintenance, and interventions should consider incorporating stress reduction techniques.

Elli Jalo, Hanna Konttinen, Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga, Tanja Adam, Mathijs Drummen, Maija Huttunen-Lenz, Pia Siig Vestentoft, J. Alfredo Martinez, Svetoslav Handjiev, Ian Macdonald, Jennie Brand-Miller, Sally Poppitt, Nils Swindell, Tony Lam, Santiago Navas-Carretero, Teodora Handjieva-Darlenska, Moira Taylor, Roslyn Muirhead, Marta P. Silvestre, Anne Raben, Mikael Fogelholm