Digital Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Weight Self-stigma
ConditionWeight Self-Stigma
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phasePhase 2
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUtah State University
About this trial
Individuals with overweight experience chronic, pervasive stigma, which is a significant contributor to poor health outcomes. The negative consequences of stigma are further worsened among individuals with overweight who internalize and apply stigmatizing attitudes to themselves, a process called weight self-stigma. Despite its prevalence and consequences, there are notably few evidence-based interventions for weight self-stigma, with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) being the most studied treatment to-date. Previous trials have found ACT effective for addressing weight self-stigma among adults with overweight through a one-day workshop and 10-week group. A self-guided ACT intervention has potential benefits for increasing access and reach of these services, which is supported by positive results in trials evaluating ACT delivered in a self-help book and a digital intervention format. However, these self-guided interventions included weight self-stigma as a more secondary focus and no studies have evaluated a digital ACT intervention designed specifically to address weight self-stigma. The proposed RCT will evaluate a digital ACT single session intervention relative to a waitlist control in a sample of 100 adults reporting overweight and high weight self-stigma.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Weight self-stigma questionnaire (WSSQ; Lillis et al., 2010) score of 36 or higher as an indicator of high weight self-stigma,
self-reported BMI > 25 (indicating overweight),
18 years or older,
living in the US,
Disqualifiers
No other exclusion criteria.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
ACT Guide for Weight Self-Stigma
BehavioralParticipants randomized to the ACT condition will be asked to complete the single session program as soon as possible (ideally that day), and a RA will monitor and check in with participants to encourage completion of the single session program. The program will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. The content of the program focuses on cognitive defusion skills to address weight-related judgments and values skills to increase engagement in meaningful activities that are impacted by weight self-stigma.
Treatment groups
100 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: ACTExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: WaitlistNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire
The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) is a 12-item scale measuring weight self-stigma, including both negative attitudes toward oneself based on weight and fear of being stigmatized by others. Each item is rated from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree), and items are summed to generate a total score. Scores range from 12 to 60 with higher scores indicating higher weight self-stigma.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow upSecondary outcomes
1
Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale
This 11-item version of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS) will be included as a secondary measure of weight self-stigma to help further probe potential effects of a single session digital ACT program. The WBIS is a commonly used measure of weight self-stigma and including this measure will help further bridge relevant literature on this construct given studies have varied in using the WSSQ or WBIS. Scores range from 11 to 77 with higher scores indicating higher weight self-stigma.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow up2
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties-Revised
Psychological inflexibility related to weight will be assessed with the 10-item version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties (AAQW). Scores range from 7 to 70 with higher scores indicating higher psychological inflexibility.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow up3
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21
The 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) will be used to assess mental health symptoms. The total score will be reported, which combines the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales. Scores range from 21 to 84 with higher scores indicating higher psychological inflexibility.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow up4
Work and Social Adjustment Scale
The 5-item Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) will be used to assess perceived functional impairment due to weight self-stigma. This measure is designed to be modified by rating the degree to which a relevant problem (in this case weight self-stigma) interferes with psychosocial functioning (e.g., ability to work, complete home tasks). Scores range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher functional impairment.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow upOther outcomes
1
Food Noise Questionnaire
The 5-item Food Noise Questionnaire (FNQ) will be used to assess food noise (persistent, intrusive thoughts about food) as an exploratory outcome measure.Scores range from 5 to 25 with higher scores indicating higher food noise.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow up2
Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Exercise
The three item identified motivation subscale of the Self-Regulation Questionnaire-Exercise (SRQ-E) will be used to examine motivation to exercise. Scores range from 3 to 21 with higher scores indicating higher identified motivation.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow up3
Physical Activity Vital Sign
This is a two item screening measure designed to briefly asses self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Time frame
Baseline, 2-week, and 4-week follow upLocations
Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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