An Acceptance-Based Behavioral Intervention for Weight Loss: A Pilot Study

Abstract

On average participants in behavioral weight loss interventions lose 8 kilograms (kg) at 6 months, but there is marked variability in outcomes with some participants losing little or no weight. Individuals with difficulties with internal disinhibition (i.e., eating in response to emotions or thoughts) typically lose less weight in such programs and may require an innovative, specialized approach. This pilot study examined the preliminary acceptability and efficacy of a 24-week acceptance-based behavioral intervention for weight loss amongst overweight and obese adults reporting difficulty with eating in response to emotions and thoughts. Participants were 21 overweight or obese men and women (mean age=52.2±7.6 years; baseline mean body mass index=32.8±3.4). 86% completed the 6-month program and a 3-month follow-up assessment. Ratings of program satisfaction averaged 4.9 on a 5-point scale. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated participants lost an average of 12.0 kg (SE=1.4) after 6 months of treatment and 12.1 kg (SE=1.9) at 3-month follow-up, thus exceeding the weight losses typically seen in behavioral treatment programs. Decreases in internal disinhibition and weight-related experiential avoidance were found at 6-months and 3-month follow-up. Greater decreases in weight-related experiential avoidance were associated with greater weight loss at the end of the program (r=.64, p=.002), suggesting a potential mechanism of action. Although there have been a few preliminary studies using acceptance-based approaches for obesity, this is the first study to specifically target emotional overeaters, a subgroup that might be particularly responsive to this new approach. Our findings provide initial support for the feasibility, efficacy and acceptability of this approach for this subgroup of participants. Further study with longer follow-up, a more diverse sample, and comparison to a standard behavioral program is clearly warranted.

Investigation of the Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Psychotherapy (ACT) on Quality of Life of Adult Women Suffering from Obesity

“…Creating psychological flexibility which is one of the treatment stages in this study and Feros [14], leads to leaving aside the wrong habits and results in improving quality of life in physical health dimension. Results of this study in terms of impact on improving the level of independency of quality of life are in line with other studies in this field [5] [14] [15] [22] [23].…”

“…Which means it is possible that improving quality of life leads to modifying food style and physical mobility and that in turn result promotion in quality of life. As it is obvious in Niemeier and associates [15] studies, when participants reached the acceptance stage, evaluation and analysis of quality of life consciously was begun. This issue was evident after the fourth session.…”

“…Results of studies of Niemeier et al [15], Karen, Michael & Ruth [16], Tapper & Shaw [17], Lillis [5], showed that acceptance and commitment therapy can be effective in improving the life of patients.…”

Tudatosság és önreflexió: A mindfulness módszerek szerepe az elhízás kezelésében

“…A visszaesésben szerepet játszó tényezőket elemezve Cooper és munkatársai (2010) arra a következtetésre jutottak, hogy az elhízás hosszútávú kezelése pszichológiai értelemben terápiarezisz tens állapotnak tekinthető, és jelenleg nem ismerjük eléggé a visszahízásban szerepet játszó tényezőket. A kutatási eredmények alapján úgy tűnik, hogy jelenleg nem mondhatjuk, hogy rendelkezünk az elhízás tartós csökkenté sére adekvát pszichológiai kezelési módszerekkel és inkább a prevencióra lenne szükséges hangsúlyt helyezni (Beutel, Dippel, Szczepanski, Thiede, & Wiltink, 2006;Nakade és mtsai, 2012;Niemeier, Leahey, Palm Reed, Brown, & Wing, 2012;Teixeira és mtsai, 2010;Werrij és mtsai, 2009). Ma már bizonyos, hogy az egészségügyi személyzet erőfeszí-tései mellett a legsikeresebb kezelés sem hoz hosszútávú eredményt a részt-vevő személyek aktív hozzáállása nélkül.…”

Interdisciplinary lifestyle intervention for weight management in a community population (HealthTrack study): Study design and baseline sample characteristics

“…Excessive weight contributes to the risk of all these conditions [1][2][3][4], and obesity contributes to co-morbidities such as hypertension, osteoarthritis, asthma, sleep apnoea, chronic back pain, sexual dysfunction and depression [1,5].…”