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Exploration of a Professional Journal Article

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Exploration of a Professional Journal Article in Psychology
Amanda Almanza
Dr. Marina Stakic
Psychology
November 9, 2013
Exploration of a Professional Journal Article in Psychology
The article I selected is one about the relation between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and obesity and weight loss (Johannessen & Berntsen, 2013). This article was a report of research study done to show a general relation between PTSD and obesity. It has been reported in previous research that exposure to a stressful or traumatic event in either childhood and or adulthood have been associated with obesity. Not only is PTSD symptoms and obesity related, but depression and obesity are closely related as well. The author states that “a large decrease in the level of depression has been observed in gastric surgery patients 1 year after surgery” (Johannessen & Berntsen, 2013). This research study was to determine if obese participants were put in a weight loss facility to lose weight, would the PTSD symptoms decrease as the weight decreased.
The method of the research was done by recruiting participants from a weight loss facility who were obese dieters with a high body mass index (BMI). During a 16 week stay at the facility the study examined changes in PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and BMI levels. Each participant completed a questionnaire and checklist of their PTSD symptoms at 3 different times during this 16 week period, in the 1st week, in the 8th week, and in the final 16th week of their stay. Each participant filled out a trauma checklist during their first week that determined if the participant had been involved in one or more of 13 specified traumatic events. Some of the traumatic events or stressful circumstances are discussed in or textbook (Santrock, 2006) chapter 4 on “Stress”. The book states “a number of different high stressful circumstances or events can trigger a PTSD. Among these circumstances are war-related traumas, abuse, and natural and unnatural disasters.” (Santrock, 2006, p.133) Those traumas were on the participants’ checklist as well as an accident, life threating disease, and imprisonment to name a few more. At the facility the participants focused on healthy eating and exercising. They lived there for the entire 16 weeks of the study and during their stay they exercised 1-4 hours a day, ate healthy food, and taught how to cook healthy meals.
The article summarizes the study by stating “we found a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and BMI in obese participants during the 16 week stay” (Johannessen & Berntsen, 2013). The article believes that there are a many explanations behind the decrease in PTSD symptoms in the participants as they lost weight in the facility. One of the explanations being that the participants stayed at the facility and not back in their own environment. Taking them out of their own environments and getting them to focus on different goals and other activities, allowed them to not have to be reminded of their stressful events. Second explanation pertained to the amount of exercise the participants did each day. The author states “exercise creates endorphins that have been shown to have a positive influence on the mood” (Johannessen & Berntsen, 2013). The third explanation given in the article was motivation theory. The participants focused so much on their current goal of losing weight, that all they could really think about was dieting and exercise which reduced their thoughts pertaining to their traumatic event.
The author summarizes the article by stating “it is unclear whether the decline in the level of PTSD symptoms is because of the weight loss, the weight loss program, or a combination of the two, as well as social support” (Johannessen & Berntsen, 2013). There is a great list of recommendations of ways to build resilience in our textbook, such as keep things in perspective, maintain a hopeful outlook, and take care of yourself are just a few listed. (Santrock, 2006, p.135) Our textbook states “above all being a supportive listener while the person tells his or her story” (Santrock, 2006, p.135).
This article corresponds with our textbook pertaining to stress. (Santrock, 2006, p.132 - 135) I feel that this was such an interesting article that provided excellent results pertaining to the relation to PTSD symptoms, obesity, and depression symptoms. However, with the many different possible explanations to the results this study reported leaves the opportunity for further investigations regarding the relation of these disorders.
References
Johannessen,K., & Berntsen, D. (2013). Losing the Symptoms: Weight Loss and Decrease in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(6), 655-660
Santrock, J. W. (2006) Human Adjustment. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

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