Therapeutic patient education with art therapy: effectiveness among obese patients

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of art therapy in a 2-week in-hospital therapeutic patient education (TPE) program for obese patients. Methods: One hundred seventy obese patients were studied before the TPE program and 6 weeks later. Patients were randomized in two groups: Group 1 without art therapy (N = 74, body-mass index (BMI) = 37.5 ± 7.8 kg/m2) and Group 2 with art therapy (N = 96, BMI = 39.3 ± 7.6 kg/m2). Group 2 subjects received five structured sessions of manual and standardized art therapy during the 2-week in-hospital TPE program. Results: A significant weight loss (p < 0.001) was observed in both groups after 6 weeks following the TPE program. Group 2 subjects receiving art therapy showed an increase in quantitative indicators of creativity as well as qualitative indicators as compared to Group 1 without art therapy. However, group 1 without art therapy displayed a consistent reduction in all quantitative and qualitative indicators of creativity during and after the TPE program. Conclusion: Art therapy contributes into the development of creative potential during and following a 2-week TPE program for obese patients. Art-therapy should be proposed in combination with therapeutic patient education for obese patients.