Self-compassion and Nutrition (SCAN) Study

The Miriam Hospital28 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of two approaches for improving long-term weight loss success among individuals with severe obesity. All participants will receive a 15-week, standard behavioral weight loss program followed by either 8 weeks of a mindfulness self-compassion intervention or 8 weeks of a nutrition and cooking education intervention (determined via randomization procedures). Assessments of weight, physical activity, and other weight-related and psychosocial factors will occur at baseline, 4 months, 6 months, and 9 months.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obesity Weight Loss

Interventions

Behavioral weight loss programBEHAVIORAL

Using a combination of individual (\~1x/month) and group-based (\~3x/month) meetings, participants will be taught behavioral approaches for changing diet and exercise behaviors. This intervention will be 15 weeks in duration and will be delivered remotely using a video-conferencing platform.

Self-compassionBEHAVIORAL

This 8-week, group-based program will help train individuals on how to handle difficult emotions with greater ease, how to transform difficult relationships, and how to motivate and encourage oneself, rather than being self-critical.

Nutrition and cooking educationBEHAVIORAL

This 8-week, group-based program will help individuals to improve the quality of their diet through nutrition education and basic cooking skills for preparing healthy meals.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-65 years * BMI between 40 - 55 kg/m2 * Female * Score high on internalized weight bias Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of any condition that would limit one's ability to exercise (i.e., orthopedic limitations) * Recent weight loss (≥15 pounds within the past 6 months) * History of bariatric surgery * Current or recent enrollment (completed \<1 year ago) in a weight loss program at the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center * Currently taking any weight loss or other medication that could alter one's metabolism * Women who are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant in the next 6 months, or those pregnant within the past 6 months * Serious psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychosis, major depression, suicidality) - * Participants with a history of diabetes or heart disease will be considered for this study only if their heart disease or diabetes is well controlled, and physician consent will be required.

Locations (1)

The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Recruitment feasibility will be assessed by the number of participants screened and enrolled

Time frame: At the end of the study, up to 9 months post-baseline

Session attendance will be assessed by calculating the overall session attendance (# of sessions completed/# of sessions possible).

The feasibility of the intervention will be assessed by calculating the overall session attendance

Time frame: 6 months

Acceptability of the intervention (retention) will be determined by the percentage of participants completing the 9-month assessment visit

Time frame: 9 months

Secondary Outcomes

Percent weight change at 6 months

Time frame: 6 months after study enrollment

Percent weight change at 9 months

Time frame: 9 months after study enrollment

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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