Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workshop for Obesity

Overseen By Gareth Dutton, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Must not be taking: Weight loss medications

Disqualifiers: Eating disorders, Major mood disorders, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a 4-hour acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) workshop can help women with obesity adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle habits. Researchers seek to assess whether the workshop can alter certain psychological aspects and improve diet and exercise behaviors. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will attend the workshop, while the other will wait to attend later. The trial seeks women with a BMI over 30 who live within 50 miles of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to healthier lifestyle interventions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using prescription medication for weight loss, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that this ACT workshop is safe for participants?

Research has shown that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is generally safe for people with obesity. Studies have found that ACT can aid in weight loss and enhance quality of life. For instance, some research indicates that ACT-based programs can reduce unhealthy eating habits and body dissatisfaction.

One study suggested that ACT might improve psychological flexibility and help individuals feel better about their weight. Importantly, participants rated ACT for weight management as highly acceptable, indicating that most find it easy to participate in and complete.

Overall, ACT appears well-tolerated, with no major safety concerns reported in these studies. This makes it a promising option for those seeking to manage their weight and improve their lifestyle. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop for obesity because it offers a unique approach by focusing on psychological flexibility rather than just physical changes. Unlike standard treatments that often emphasize diet and exercise alone, ACT helps individuals change their relationship with food and body image through mindfulness and acceptance strategies. This method aims to address the emotional and mental factors that contribute to obesity, providing a more holistic and potentially more sustainable path to health.

What evidence suggests that the ACT workshop is effective for obesity?

Studies have shown that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps people with obesity by improving mental flexibility and reducing feelings of shame about their weight. ACT-based programs can lead to weight loss that matches or exceeds standard treatments. Research indicates that ACT can enhance how weight affects a person's quality of life. Some studies found that ACT can assist with weight loss, although the changes might be small. Overall, ACT shows promise in addressing both the mental and physical challenges of obesity. Participants in this trial will receive the ACT workshop as part of the intervention group, while others will be in a waitlist control group. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women with obesity (BMI >30.0 kg/m2) who can read and speak English and live within 50 miles of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It's not for those on weight loss meds, with eating disorders or major mood disorders, in other weight programs, or who've had recent significant weight changes.

Inclusion Criteria

BMI of >30.0 kg/m2 based on self-reported height and weight

I identify as a woman.

Able to read and understand written and spoken English

Exclusion Criteria

I have recently used prescription medication to lose weight.

You have a significant mental health condition that affects your mood (like depression or bipolar disorder).

Current participation in another weight management program.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants in the intervention group will receive a 4-hour ACT workshop to facilitate healthy lifestyle behaviors

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in psychological and behavioral measures at 1 week and 1 month post-intervention

1 month

2 visits (1 week and 1 month post-intervention)

Waitlist Control

Participants in the waitlist control group will receive the workshop after the intervention group

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• ACT workshop

Trial Overview Researchers are testing if a single 4-hour Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop can help women with obesity adopt healthier lifestyles. They'll look at psychological factors and actual changes in diet and activity by comparing an active group to a waitlist control group over one month.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the intervention group will receive the ACT workshop

Group II: Waitlist Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive the intervention until all members of the intervention group have received the workshop. Once all members of the intervention group have received the workshop, participants in the waitlist control group will be able to receive the workshop if they so desire.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a pilot study involving young adult females, those who participated in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) showed a significant increase in physical activity compared to those who received an Education intervention.

The ACT intervention, which included mindfulness and values clarification techniques, suggests that this therapeutic approach can effectively promote short-term behavior change related to physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of acceptance and commitment therapy for promotion of physical activity. Butryn, ML., Forman, E., Hoffman, K., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 155 adults with obesity, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention was found to be effective in maintaining weight loss over time, with participants achieving a ≥5% weight loss from baseline to follow-up.

While both ACT and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) showed similar results at discharge, the ACT group demonstrated significant improvements in psychological wellbeing and weight maintenance during the 6-month follow-up period.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

ACTonFood. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Group Treatment Compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Group Treatment for Weight Loss Maintenance: An Individually Randomized Group Treatment Trial. Cattivelli, R., Guerrini Usubini, A., Manzoni, GM., et al.[2021]

The WeLNES trial is testing the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for weight loss through telehealth coaching, involving 398 adults with overweight or obesity over a two-year period.

The primary goal is to see if more participants in the ACT group achieve a significant weight loss of 10% or more compared to those receiving Standard Behavioral Therapy (SBT), which could lead to a scalable and impactful weight loss treatment if successful.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telehealth acceptance and commitment therapy for weight loss: Protocol of the WeLNES full scale randomized controlled trial. Bricker, JB., Mull, KE., Sullivan, BM., et al.[2023]

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shows promise as an effective add-on treatment to traditional behavioral weight loss programs, potentially improving long-term weight maintenance outcomes.

Current evidence indicates that combining ACT with standard weight control methods could enhance results, but further research with larger participant groups and longer follow-up periods is necessary to optimize these approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for weight control: Model, evidence, and future directions. Lillis, J., Kendra, KE.[2022]

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention combined with standard treatment in improving psychological conditions in adolescents with obesity, involving 50 participants aged 12-17 over a three-week rehabilitation program.

The primary focus is on enhancing psychological well-being and reducing emotional dysregulation and eating issues, with the potential for long-term benefits in weight loss management through targeted psychological processes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The ACTyourCHANGE in Teens Study Protocol: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Guerrini Usubini, A., Cattivelli, R., Bertuzzi, V., et al.[2021]

A pilot study involving 7 families showed that a 16-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combined with lifestyle modification was highly acceptable to both adolescents and their parents, with mean acceptability scores of 8.8 and 9.0 on a 1-10 scale.

The adolescents who completed the treatment experienced a 1.3% reduction in BMI, along with improvements in cognitive restraint, reduced hunger, increased physical activity, and significant reductions in depression, indicating potential efficacy for weight management and mental health in this age group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of acceptance-based behavioural weight loss for adolescents with obesity. Tronieri, JS., Wadden, TA., Leonard, SM., et al.[2023]

This study will analyze the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based weight management interventions (WMIs) specifically for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or higher, focusing on how these interventions may be more beneficial for those with certain eating behavior traits (EBTs) like emotional and uncontrolled eating.

The research aims to determine if ACT-based WMIs not only work better for individuals with high levels of specific EBTs but also if they achieve their effects by changing these behaviors, using a comprehensive individual participant data meta-analysis approach.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The moderating and mediating role of eating behaviour traits in acceptance and commitment therapy-based weight management interventions: protocol for an individual participant data meta-analysis. Kudlek, L., Mueller, J., Eustacio Colombo, P., et al.[2023]

This study will investigate the effects of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention on psychological flexibility in 90 Italian inpatients with obesity, focusing on how different components of psychological flexibility influence weight management and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Participants will be monitored over 9 months post-discharge to assess the long-term effectiveness of the intervention on weight, BMI, and various psychological well-being measures, helping to clarify the mechanisms behind psychological flexibility in promoting behavioral change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The ACTyourCHANGE study protocol: promoting a healthy lifestyle in patients with obesity with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-a randomized controlled trial. Guerrini Usubini, A., Cattivelli, R., Giusti, EM., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9918584/

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on ... ACT is effective in improving psychological flexibility and weight stigma in people with overweight and obesity. Mixed findings were found for ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12064586/

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obesity Current data indicate that ACT-based interventions produce comparable, or, in some cases, superior weight loss compared to standard behavioral interventions.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144724001078

An acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness ... This study suggests that an ACT and mindfulness-based group intervention could produce improvements in the impact of weight on quality of life.

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41366-025-01759-9

Individual participant data meta-analysis of eating ... There was a difference of mean percentage weight change from baseline to the end of intervention of −0.71% [95% CI −1.29, −0.03] in the ACT ...

5. sites.brown.edu sites.brown.edu/publichealthjournal/2024/03/17/analyzing-technology-supported-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-for-obesity/

Analyzing Technology-Supported Acceptance and ... Overall, ACT has been found to be effective in treating psychological aspects of obesity and partially in addressing weight loss.

6. bariatrictimes.com bariatrictimes.com/acceptance-commitment-weight-loss-maintenance/

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Weight Loss ... Studies with surgical samples.​​ Results showed that patients who received ACT reduced eating disordered behaviors and body dissatisfaction, and ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144723001266

The acceptability, feasibility and preliminary efficacy of ... ACT for weight management showed high acceptability among adolescents. Studies demonstrate some evidence that ACT may yield support for weight management.