Underreporting in obese inpatients undergoing a psycho-nutritional rehabilitative program

Objective: to evaluate the possible correlation between underreporting and anthropometric, psychological and socio-anagraphic characteristics in obese inpatients. Design: perspective longitudinal study Subjects: 42 obese inpatients, enrolled to a multidisciplinary 3 weeks weight loss program in a psycho-nutritional rehabilitative structure located in Salice Terme, Northern Italy. They underwent anthropometric, dietary, clinical and psycho diagnostic evaluation. Results: 42 subjects were included in the study of which 29 (70%) were female and 13 were male. Mean BMI and mean waist circumference were Kg/m2 42.7 ±9.5 and 125 ± 18 cm respectively. The mean weight loss of 4.2 ± 2.2 Kg in the whole sample was significantly greater in males compared to females. The waist circumference fell in equal measure in both of the sexes. Thirty patients were classified as under reporters according to Goldberg, two thirds of which were females. In the course of the three recovery weeks a third of the 30 subjects identified as under reporters at the beginning continued to under report energy intake. Conclusion: In our study the prevalence of underreporting was equal to over 70% of the original sample. There was no significant difference between the weight losses achieved by the underreporter and non-underreporter groups. All the underreporters initially, became partly non-underreporters during treatment. Those who gave up the practice of underreporting were patients who had a more elevated BMI, who were more susceptible to binge eating behaviour and who experienced a strong uneasiness both physically and psychologically. They also had a strongly impaired Quality of Life.