Obesity is an 'epidemic' within the UK. Individuals living with obseity are at risk of developing cancer, heart problems and dieing. Furthermore, obesity impacts on psychological wellbeing via lowered self-efficacy, self-esteem, body image and overall quality of life (QoL). A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) is proposed to investigate the additional benefit of a psychological intervention alongside treatment as usual (TAU) in a weight management service. Patients routinely attending an outpatient clinic will be randomised into TAU with or without additional acceptance and commitment Therapy (ACT) group based-input and their outcomes monitored over time.
Overweight and obesity is reported as an 'epidemic' problem within the UK as well as the world. Individuals living with this may be at higher risk of developing co-morbidities, such as cancers, heart problems or diabetes, and higher mortality rates are reported in this group. Furthermore, overweight and obesity can also impact on a person's psychological wellbeing, such as their self-efficacy, self-esteem and body image as well as have a negative effect on their overall quality of life (QoL). Therefore, a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) is proposed to investigate the additional benefit of a psychological intervention alongside treatment as usual (TAU) in a weight management service. Patients routinely attending an outpatient clinic will be randomised into TAU with or without additional Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group based-input.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Four sessions of the ACT protocol will be psychoeducational in nature, with brief experiential exercises in the class and in-between session practice. It's aim is to allow individuals to be able to sit with difficult experiences (rather than fight against them) and in turn this may allow them to live towards what they value in life.
Six sessions of a dietetic intervention will be psychoeducational in nature around weight and nutrition, delivered by professionals working in the service.
University of Sheffield
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
A measure of psychological distress in relation to anxiety and depression symptoms. There is a total of 14 items (7 items relate to anxiety; 7 items relate to depression) with answers scored on a Likert scale of 0-3 (scores from 0-42; higher scores indicating worse symptoms).
Time frame: 7 days
Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)
The SF-36 is a generic measure of health related quality of life. There is a total of 36 questions which can be grouped into 3 levels: i) 36 individual items; ii) 8 subscales; iii) 2 summary measures.
Time frame: 24 hours
Eating Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES)
It measures self-efficacy. It contains 25-items measuring the person's confidence in ability to manage overeating in various situations (Likert scale 1-7 used).
Time frame: 24 hours
Action and Acceptance Questionnaire - II (AAQ-II)
The AAQ-II is a measure of experiential avoidance (i.e., attempts to alter difficult internal experiences which often leads to increased distress) and psychological inflexibility. Patients are asked to rate their experiences on a 7-point Likert scale (from '1: never true' to '7: always true').
Time frame: 24 hours
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