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

70 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop for obesity?

Research shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help with weight management by improving long-term weight loss outcomes and addressing challenges like overeating due to stress. Studies have found that ACT can be effective in maintaining weight loss over time and improving psychological well-being in individuals with obesity. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) safe for humans?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been used safely in various studies for different conditions, including obesity and weight management, without any significant safety concerns reported. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

How is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) different from other treatments for obesity?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is unique because it focuses on improving psychological flexibility, helping individuals manage overeating triggered by stress or tempting foods, and promoting long-term weight loss maintenance. Unlike standard behavioral therapies, ACT addresses emotional and uncontrolled eating, potentially making it more effective for people with these eating behavior traits. ^{1 2 3 7 8}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if a 4-hour acceptance and commitment therapy workshop can help the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle behaviors in women with obesity. The objectives are as follows: 1. To assess changes in ACT-related constructs before and after the workshop 2. To assess changes in other psychological constructs that have been shown to hinder successful weight management before and after the workshop 3. To assess changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors before and after the workshop. Participants will complete baseline questionnaires and anthropometric measures at three time points: baseline, 1 week after the workshop, and 1 month after the workshop. Researchers will compare an active intervention group to a waitlist control group to investigate the efficacy of the workshop.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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)

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. England 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. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telehealth acceptance and commitment therapy for weight loss: Protocol of the WeLNES full scale randomized controlled trial. [2023]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

4. Switzerland 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. [2021]

5. Switzerland 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. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of acceptance and commitment therapy for promotion of physical activity. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of acceptance-based behavioural weight loss for adolescents with obesity. [2023]

8. England 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. [2023]