Efficacy of Flower Therapy for Anxiety in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of flower therapy for the treatment of anxiety in overweight or obese adults with that of a placebo. The authors examined improvement in sleep patterns, reduction in binge eating, and change in resting heart rate (RHR). Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a parallel-group design and two arms. Setting/Location: Clinical Research Unit, Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Subjects: The study included 40 participants in the placebo group and 41 in the intervention group. Participants were of both genders, from 20 to 59 years of age, overweight or obese, with moderate to high anxiety. Interventions: The participants were divided into two random groups: one group was treated with Bach flower remedies (BFR) (bottles containing 30 mL of 30% hydro-brandy solution with two drops each of Impatiens, White Chestnut, Cherry Plum, Chicory, Crab Apple, and Pine), and the other group was given a placebo (same solution without BFR). The patients were instructed to orally ingest the solution by placing four drops directly in the mouth four times a day for 4 weeks. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]). Secondary outcomes were sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), binge eating (Binge Eating Scale [BES]), and RHR (electrocardiogram). Results: Multivariate analysis showed significant reductions in scores for the following variables in the intervention group when compared with the placebo group: STAI (ß = -0.190; p < 0.001), PSQI (ß = -0.160; p = 0.027), BES (ß = -0.226; p = 0.001), and RHR (ß = -0.07; p = 0.003). Conclusions: The anxiety symptoms, binge eating, and RHRs of the individuals treated with flower therapy decreased, and their sleep patterns improved when compared with those treated with the placebo. Registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (no. RBR-47-kfxh).

Anxiety, sleep quality, and binge eating in overweight or obese adults. / Ansiedade, qualidade do sono e compulsão alimentar em adultos com sobrepeso ou obesidade.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of anxiety to binge eating and sleep quality in overweight or obese adults. METHOD: Transversal study, conducted between May 2015 and January 2017, with an intentional sample composed of literate individuals of both sexes, aged 20 to 59 years, who presented body mass index higher or equal to 25 kg/m2. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Binge Eating Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed. Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient was adopted for data analysis, according to its distribution. RESULTS: The sample comprised 130 individuals. The overall and young adults' samples presented a positive correlation between anxiety and binge eating scores (p=0.0011) and sleep quality score (p=0.0081). Adults who were 45 or older presented an inverse relation between age and anxiety (p=0.0003). CONCLUSION: The overall sample and young adults who presented higher anxiety state had higher indexes of binge eating and a worse sleep quality, whereas for middle-aged adults, higher age was related to a lower anxiety score. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos): n° RBR-47kfxh.

Ansiedade, qualidade do sono e compulsão alimentar em adultos com sobrepeso ou obesidade / Ansiedad, calidad del sueño y compulsión por comer en adultos con sobrepeso u obesidad / Anxiety, sleep quality, and binge eating in overweight or obese adults

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a relação da ansiedade com a compulsão alimentar e a qualidade do sono em adultos com sobrepeso ou obesidade. Método: Estudo transversal, realizado entre maio de 2015 e janeiro de 2017, com amostra intencional composta por indivíduos de ambos os sexos, alfabetizados, com idade entre 20 e 59 anos, que apresentavam índice de massa corporal maior ou igual a 25 kg/m2. Utilizaram-se o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado, Escala de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica e Questionário de Padrão do Sono de Pittsburgh. Adotaram-se o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson ou Spearman na análise dos dados, de acordo com a distribuição destes. Resultados: A amostra foi constituída por 130 indivíduos. A amostra geral e os adultos jovens apresentaram correlação positiva entre os escores de ansiedade e os de compulsão alimentar (p=0,0011) e qualidade do sono (p=0,0081). Adultos com 45 anos ou mais apresentaram relação inversa da idade com a ansiedade (p=0,0003). Conclusão: A amostra geral e adultos jovens que apresentaram maior estado de ansiedade tinham maiores índices de compulsão alimentar e pior qualidade do sono. Contrariamente, nos adultos de meia-idade, quanto maior a idade, menor o escore de ansiedade. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos: n° RBR-47kfxh

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre la ansiedad y la compulsión por comer y la calidad del sueño en adultos con sobrepeso u obesidad. Método: Estudio transversal, realizado entre mayo de 2015 y enero de 2017, con una muestra intencional compuesta por individuos de ambos sexos, alfabetizados, de edades comprendidas entre 20 y 59 años, con un índice de masa corporal mayor o igual a 25 kg/m2. Se utilizaron el Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado Rasgo, la Escala de Atracón y el Índice de Calidad de Sueño de Pittsburgh. En el análisis de los datos se adoptó el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson o Spearman, según su distribución. Resultados: La muestra constaba de 130 individuos. La muestra general y los adultos jóvenes presentaron una correlación positiva entre las puntuaciones en ansiedad y compulsión por la comida (p=0,0011) y de la calidad del sueño (p=0,0081). En los adultos de 45 años o más se verificó una relación inversa entre la edad y la ansiedad (p=0,0003). Conclusión: La muestra general y los adultos jóvenes con mayor estado de ansiedad tenían mayores puntuaciones en compulsión por la comida y peor calidad del sueño. Por el contrario, en los adultos de mediana edad, cuanto mayor era la edad, menor era la puntuación en ansiedad. Registro Brasileño de Ensayos Clínicos: n° RBR-47kfxh

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the relationship of anxiety to binge eating and sleep quality in overweight or obese adults. Method: Transversal study, conducted between May 2015 and January 2017, with an intentional sample composed of literate individuals of both sexes, aged 20 to 59 years, who presented body mass index higher or equal to 25 kg/m2. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Binge Eating Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed. Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient was adopted for data analysis, according to its distribution. Results: The sample comprised 130 individuals. The overall and young adults' samples presented a positive correlation between anxiety and binge eating scores (p=0.0011) and sleep quality score (p=0.0081). Adults who were 45 or older presented an inverse relation between age and anxiety (p=0.0003). Conclusion: The overall sample and young adults who presented higher anxiety state had higher indexes of binge eating and a worse sleep quality, whereas for middle-aged adults, higher age was related to a lower anxiety score. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos): n° RBR-47kfxh