ACT for Healthy Living: a Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Women With Obesity

NCT05885438 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB-300010404
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if a 4-hour acceptance and commitment therapy workshop can help the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyle behaviors in women with obesity. The objectives are as follows:

1. 1.To assess changes in ACT-related constructs before and after the workshop
2. 2.To assess changes in other psychological constructs that have been shown to hinder successful weight management before and after the workshop
3. 3.To assess changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors before and after the workshop. Participants will complete baseline questionnaires and anthropometric measures at three time points: baseline, 1 week after the workshop, and 1 month after the workshop. Researchers will compare an active intervention group to a waitlist control group to investigate the efficacy of the workshop.

Conditions

Obesity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Change from baseline in psychological flexibility at Week 1

  The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties is a validated, self-report measure and will be used to assess change in psychological flexibility. Possible scores range from 0-22, with higher scores indicating greater psychological flexibility.

  Baseline and 1 week

• Change from baseline in distress tolerance at Week 1

  Distress tolerance will be measured using the Distress Tolerance Scale- Short Form (DTS), a validated, self-report measure. Possible scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating better distress tolerance

  baseline and 1 week

• Change from baseline in valued living at Week 1

  The Valued Living Questionnaire is a validated, self-report measure to assess the extent to which an individual is living in a way that is consistent with their core values. Scores range from 10-100, with higher scores indicating greater consistency between values and behavior.

  baseline and 1 week

• Change from baseline in psychological flexibility at 1 month

  The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties is a validated, self-report measure and will be used to assess change in psychological flexibility. Possible scores range from 0-22, with higher scores indicating greater psychological flexibility.

  baseline and 1 month

• Change from baseline in distress tolerance at 1 month

  Distress tolerance will be measured using the Distress Tolerance Scale- Short Form (DTS), a validated, self-report measure. Possible scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating better distress tolerance

  baseline and 1 month

• Change from baseline in valued living at 1 month

  The Valued Living Questionnaire is a validated, self-report measure to assess the extent to which an individual is living in a way that is consistent with their core values. Scores range from 10-100, with higher scores indicating greater consistency between values and behavior.

  baseline and 1 month

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Change from baseline in weight self-stigma at Week 1

  baseline and 1 week

• Change from baseline in weight self-stigma at 1 month

  baseline and 1 month

• Change from baseline in body image at Week 1

  baseline and 1 week

• Change from baseline in body image at Month 1

  baseline and 1 month

• Change from baseline in emotional eating at Week 1

  baseline and 1 week

Study Arms (2)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the intervention group will receive the ACT workshop

Behavioral: ACT workshop

Waitlist Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive the intervention until all members of the intervention group have received the workshop. Once all members of the intervention group have received the workshop, participants in the waitlist control group will be able to receive the workshop if they so desire.

Interventions

ACT workshop BEHAVIORAL

This workshop is a brief behavioral intervention that teaches acceptance and commitment therapy skills (e.g., values clarification, acceptance, committed action) to approach healthy living.

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 70 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Participants who self-identify as women will be eligible to participate.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alabama at Birmingham: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35205, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Graduate Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2023
• First Posted: June 2, 2023
• Study Start: August 31, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 13, 2025
• Study Completion: July 13, 2025
• Last Updated: September 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)