ACT for Weight-related Experiential Avoidance

Bahcesehir Cyprus University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Eating Behavior

Treatments: Behavioral: ACT for weight-related experiential avoidance

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05486442

NEU/SS/2022/1208

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aimed to investigate whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training would be helpful to reduce weight-related experiential avoidance among individuals who reported weight concern

Full description

This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT) in reducing weight-related experiential avoidance. Data were collected with a convenience sampling technique. After obtaining ethical approval, participants were invited to participate in the study via advertisements, and online posts. Due to the small sample size, participants who were willing to attend group discussions were included in the experimental group. Participants in the control group did not receive manipulation. All participants were provided with an informed consent form. All participants completed a questionnaire measuring outcomes (weight-related experiential avoidance, general experiential avoidance, eating attitudes, and social physique anxiety) at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Participants in the experimental group received ACT training including 6 sessions. The protocol was adapted from Pearson et al. (2012) with their permission. Each session took approximately 80 mins. Several aspects of ACT approach were discussed in the sessions. In session one, ACT approach was introduced. In session two, creative hopelessness was discussed. In session three, control strategies related to weight concern were identified. In session four, mindfulness exercises were completed. In the fifth session, values for meaningful life experience were discussed. In the last, sixth session, the ways to commit to action were discussed. Each session included exercises and homework. At the end of the study, the participants were provided with debrief form.

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals who were 18 years and older
• Ability to read and understand Turkish

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who have received mental health intervention over the last one year
• and those who were diagnosed with an eating disorder were excluded from the analyses

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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32 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the experimental group received ACT training in the group setting aiming to reduce weight-related experiential avoidance. This included 6 sessions in total. Each session was completed approximately in 80 mins.

Treatment:

Behavioral: ACT for weight-related experiential avoidance

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the control group did not receive any manipulation