The Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Self-Efficacy and Body Image in Obese and Overweight People

Hamid, Najmeh; Mohamadzadeh, Asghar; Beshlideh, Kumars

doi:10.30473/hpj.2025.52229.5972

Document Type : Scientific Research

Authors

¹ Professor of Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

² Ph.D. Student of Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.30473/hpj.2025.52229.5972

Abstract

Objective: Today, obesity is known as a chronic disease and is a risk factor for many diseases such as diabetes, blood lipid disorders, liver disease and heart diseases. Overweight or obesity is actually a weight that is higher than what is defined as a healthy weight index. The aim of the present study was to study the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation therapy on self-efficacy and body image in overweight patients. The research method of the current research was experimental and pre-test-post-test type with a control group. Method: The method of the current research was experimental and pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all overweight and obese patients in Ahvaz city in 2018, By the available sampling method and taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, inclusion criteria: 1- Being overweight or obese (body mass index above 25) 2- Age range from 20 to 50 years 3- Diploma education and above 4- Not suffering from acute mental and physical disorders (psychosis and mental retardation) 5- Obtaining a standard deviation less than the average in the efficiency and body image scale and the exclusion criteria include: 1- pregnancy 2- use of a heart battery or pacemaker 3- use of transcranial electrical stimulation 4- scratches and wounds on the skin Head 5- Brain surgery 9- Electroshock therapy (ECT) has been used in the last three months. finally, 63 women were selected as sample members and 40 subjects were randomly selected. They were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. Research instruments included body image scale (Littleton) and self-efficacy scale (Clark). After the initial assessment, the experimental group received three sessions of DLPFC anodic stimulation tthirteens 20-minute sessions twice a week, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS-21 software by multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in efficiency and body image. In terms of efficiency (F=124.4, P<0.000) with an effect size of 0.89 and body image (F=6.9, P<0.000) with an effect size of 0.32. The level of self-efficacy in the experimental group increased significantly compared to the pre-test and the control group. Also, the level of fear of body image in the experimental group decreased significantly compared to the pre-test and the control group. These results have shown that transcranial electrical stimulation has been effective on self-efficacy and body image in overweight and obese patients. Transcranial electrical stimulation has increased self-efficacy and reduced fear of body image. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be said that transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS) can be useful and efficient for the treatment of overweight and obesity and can be used as interventions in nutrition, psychology and counseling clinics.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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The Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Self-Efficacy and Body Image in Obese and Overweight People

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Volume 13, Issue 51December 2024Pages 155-168

Volume 13, Issue 51
December 2024
Pages 155-168