Health at Every Size for Obesity

(OB-HAES Trial)

Overseen By Monalisa Dmello

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Disqualifiers: Not pregnant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to adapt a health and wellness program called Health at Every Size (HAES) to help pregnant individuals with a high BMI (over 30) improve their mental health. The research focuses on reducing weight stigma—negative attitudes and discrimination based on weight—and its impact on mental health during and after pregnancy. Participants will engage in group sessions covering topics such as nutrition, mental health, and self-advocacy. This trial may suit pregnant individuals in their first trimester with a BMI over 30 who speak English. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that may enhance mental health support for pregnant individuals.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that the Health at Every Size intervention is safe for use in an obstetric context?

Research has shown that Health at Every Size (HAES) programs receive positive feedback from participants in many studies. These studies indicate that HAES can enhance mental health and overall well-being. Participants often experience reduced depression and improvements in physical health, such as better heart health and cholesterol levels.

HAES prioritizes personal health needs over weight loss, promoting inclusivity and respect in healthcare to reduce weight-related stigma. No serious side effects have been commonly reported in these programs, suggesting that HAES is generally safe and can be a positive choice for those seeking to improve mental health and reduce weight stigma. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach in obstetrics because it shifts the focus from weight loss to overall well-being during and after pregnancy. Unlike traditional obesity treatments that often emphasize weight reduction, HAES encourages a holistic view by supporting mental health, nutrition, and self-advocacy through group sessions. This method aims to foster a healthy lifestyle without the pressure of achieving a specific body weight, potentially benefiting both the mother's and baby's health.

What evidence suggests that the OB-HAES intervention could be effective for perinatal mental health disorders?

Research has shown that Health at Every Size (HAES) programs can boost overall well-being and reduce symptoms of depression and other mental health issues. Studies have found that HAES improves attitudes towards eating and lessens weight stigma, which occurs when people face social rejection or devaluation due to their weight. HAES effectively tackles weight bias and stigma, which can lead to mental health problems. This trial will evaluate the OBHAES Intervention, applying HAES principles during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This approach emphasizes accepting all body sizes, enhancing health, and providing respectful care, which can be especially helpful during pregnancy. Although HAES is not yet widely used in pregnancy care, its principles could help reduce weight stigma for pregnant individuals with a higher BMI. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Anna Whelan, MD

Principal Investigator

UMass Chan Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking individuals who are pregnant and have a BMI over 30 kg/m2. It aims to help those experiencing weight stigma in healthcare, which can lead to mental health issues and poor maternal outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria

English speaking

I am 18-50, have a BMI over 30, and am in my first trimester of my first pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals who are not pregnant or do not meet inclusion criteria

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants attend 5 group sessions focused on pregnancy, mental health, nutrition, and self-advocacy

Throughout pregnancy and postpartum

5 group sessions (in-person)

Postpartum Follow-up

Participants and their newborns are invited back for a final session to discuss birth and postpartum experiences

Within 6 weeks postpartum

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Health at Every Size in Obstetrics

Trial Overview The study tests adapting the Health at Every Size (HAES) intervention for obstetric care. HAES promotes inclusive, respectful care regardless of weight, focusing on overall well-being rather than just weight loss.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: OBHAES Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Individuals will be invited to participate in 5 group sessions in pregnancy and the postpartum period. The sessions include education on pregnancy, mental health, nutrition, and self-advocacy.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

372

Recruited

998,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11493725/

Effects of health at every size based interventions on ... This review aims to evaluate the effects of HAES intervention on body composition and compare these outcomes with conventional obesity ...

2. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1747-0080.12869

Revisiting the impact of Health at Every Size® interventions ... Health at Every Size® interventions had similar results compared with weight-based interventions on anthropometric outcomes and cardiometabolic outcomes.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4386524/

The Health at Every Size Paradigm and Obesity A Health at Every Size (HAES) approach has been proposed to address weight bias and stigma in individuals living with obesity.

4. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09581596.2025.2556318

a close-up on Canadian adult obesity clinical practice Furthermore, effectiveness studies have never exceeded the 2-year follow-up as the efficacy of HAES-based interventions has been demonstrated ...

5. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198401

The “Health and Wellness in Obesity” study | PLOS One The main finding of this study was that a new intensive, interdisciplinary HAES®-based, non-prescriptive intervention in obese women improved eating attitudes ...

6. asdah.org asdah.org/haes/

Health at Every Size® (HAES®) Principles The Health at Every Size® Principles promote safe and equitable access to healthcare for people regardless of size, health status, and health goals first and ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06919783?cond=Depression&term=focused%20ultrasound&aggFilters=status:not%20rec&rank=6

Adapting a Health at Every Size Intervention to Obstetric Care Previous data from the primary care literature demonstrates the efficacy of HAES interventions on improving overall well-being, decreasing rates of depression ...