Computer-Delivered Intervention for Individuals With Obesity and Elevated Anxiety Sensitivity

University of Houston

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity; Anxiety Sensitivity; Obesity; Eating

Treatments: Other: Health Control; Other: Anxiety Sensitivity Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03917901

STUDY00001405

Details and patient eligibility

About

The proposed study will design and evaluate a computerized-delivered single-session anxiety sensitivity reduction program (i.e., Anxiety Sensitivity Training; AST). The AST will be designed to achieve three primary aims: (1) provide psycho-educational information on AS and its consequences, (2) present psycho-educational information on the relationship between AS and obesity-related health behavior correlates, and (3) offer concrete, evidence-based strategies to facilitate motivation to change their obesity-related lifestyle behaviors.

Full description

The primary goal of the research study is to investigate the efficacy of a brief, computer-delivered transdiagnostic intervention that addresses anxiety sensitivity to reduce emotional eating, eating expectancies, food cravings, binge eating, perceived barriers to engage in physical activity, anxiety/depressive symptoms, severity of daily fatigue and increase perceived benefits to engage in physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, willingness to use adaptive coping strategies, and perceived physical health functioning. To address this aim, the investigator's will implement a randomized controlled trial that will employ a longitudinal experimental design and involve five stages: (a) online pre-screener; (b) baseline survey consisting of a pre-intervention assessment (eligibility) and random assignment to a one-session computer-delivered intervention (Active versus Control); (c) 1-week follow-up survey; (d) 2-week follow-up survey; (e) 1-month follow-up survey.

Enrollment: 131 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Have a body mass index of at least 30
• Endorse elevated anxiety sensitivity defined as an ASI-3 score of 17 or greater

Exclusion criteria

• Any anticipated matters that would interfere with participating in the study
• Not being fluent in English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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131 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Anxiety Sensitivity Training

Experimental group

Description:

The Anxiety Sensitivity training (AST) will provide: (1) psychoeducation on anxiety sensitivity and its consequences, (2) psychoeducation on the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and obesity-related health behavior correlates, and (3) concrete, evidenced-based strategies to reduce anxiety sensitivity.

Treatment:

Other: Anxiety Sensitivity Training

Health Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The Health Control (HC) will cover general health care, such as information on wearing sunscreen and regular attendance to doctor appointments. The HC will not provide any recommendations or education on mood, dietary, or physical habits.

Treatment:

Other: Health Control