This trial will test the effectiveness of a weight loss maintenance intervention designed to help participants respond more adaptively to weight regain. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions. In one condition, participants will receive brief exercises (e.g., written reflections, videos) sent to through a smartphone app immediately after they regain weight or miss a weigh-in. These exercises will use mindfulness, acceptance, and self-compassion strategies to help participants stay motivated for their long term goals, even when weight regain feels demoralizing. In the comparison condition, participants will receive weekly reminders of standard weight control strategies strategies.
Ages 18-70 years
BMI of 25-50 kg/m2
Current weight is 3% lower than their highest weight in the past 3 years
Desire to maintain their weight or lose more
History of bariatric surgery
History of being diagnosed with an eating disorder
Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant in the next 24 months
Enrolled in another formal weight loss/weight maintenance program
Parallel
JITAI Combined with psychological intervention
BehavioralFor six months, participants will receive a just-in-time adaptive interventions via a smartphone app immediately after they gain weight or they skip a weigh-in (according to a specific algorithm). Interventions will engage participants in mindfulness, acceptance, and self-compassion-based (MASC) strategies through different modalities (e.g., writing exercises, videos, audio reflections). They will take approximately 1-10 minutes. Participants will also attend an introductory workshop, during which they will receive the instructions weigh daily, learn the importance of quickly responding to weight regain, and be introduced to MASC strategies. They will also attend two booster workshops during the 6-month period.
Active Control
BehavioralFor six months, participants will receive weekly, automated messages via a smartphone app with reminders of standard behavioral weight control principles. Participants will attend an introductory workshop, during which they will receive instructions to weigh daily and learn the importance of responding to weight regain.
State negative affect
Through ecological assessment surveys, participants will respond to a single item measuring their current negative affect.
State shame
Through ecological assessment surveys, participants will respond to a single item measuring their current shame.
State Motivation
Through ecological assessment surveys, participants will respond to a single item measuring their current feelings of motivation.
State Self-Efficacy
Through ecological assessment surveys, participants will respond to a single item measuring their current self-efficacy.
Mindfulness (Hypothesized intervention mediator)
Participants will self-report their mindfulness using the Awareness subscale of The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. The range of scores is 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater mindfulness.
Acceptance (Hypothesized intervention mediator)
Participants will self-report their mindful acceptance using the Acceptance subscale of The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale. The range of scores is 1-5, with higher scores indicating greater mindful acceptance.
Self-compassion (Hypothesized intervention mediator)
Participants will report their self-compassion using the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form. Scores can range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating higher self-compassion.
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