INTRODUCTION:

Nutritional interventions for weight loss can fail sometimes, and understanding the causes of these failures can assist nutritionists in monitoring and treating patients. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is a psycho-pedagogical therapy focused on the patient's current problem, behaviour, and knowledge of self-control.

OBJECTIVES:

This systematic review aimed to evaluate cognitive-behavioural therapy as an auxiliary strategy to nutritional therapy in the weight loss process.

METHODOLOGY:

Sixteen studies were included and selected in the PubMed and SciElo databases, using weight loss, weight loss, and cognitive-behavioural therapy descriptors.

RESULTS:

There is evidence that cognitive-behavioural therapy contributes to the weight loss process, especially in long-term studies, through better adherence to changes in lifestyle, emotional and behavioural control.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although the behavioural approach cannot be superior to the calorie-restricted approach, cognitive-behavioural therapy as an adjunct strategy appears promising. More studies are needed to identify specifics that support lasting improvements in cognition and eating behaviour. Thus, identifying dysfunctional beliefs in patients regarding the possibility of losing weight and weight maintenance is indicated, followed by intervention to transform or replace them with practical ideas to reduce failures in the weight loss process.

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