An online behavioural intervention targeting dietary habits in adults who are overweight

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Obesity; Overweight; Diet and Nutrition - Obesity; Public Health - Health promotion/education

• Registration Number: ACTRN12620001270909
• Lead Sponsor: niversity of New South Wales

Brief Summary

Seventy-four participants (n=35 intervention and n=39 control) completed the 12-week trial. Results from the study showed that self-compassion, some aspects of the dietary intake (such as decreased energy intake), and some general psychological factors related to body weight (i.e., anxiety and stress) improved in the intervention group, but not in the control group. Eating pathology decreased in both the intervention and control groups. However, the changes in the main study outcomes were not meditated by self-compassion. Together, the findings from this study suggest that an online self-compassion, goal-setting and self-monitoring intervention could improve dietary habits in people with overweight and obesity. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and examine the efficacy of the intervention over a longer period.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Completion: 2018-06-30
• Study Start: 2020-11-25
• Last Update Posted: 30 November 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 117

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 - 55 years
• Have a BMI 25 - 40 kg /m2
• Have access to a computer/tablet/smart phone that can run an internet browser for at least 1 hour per week
• Be able to read and write English
• Be open to changing what they eat and potentially losing weight.

Exclusion Criteria

• Have a BMI > 40 kg / m2 or < 25 kg / m2
• Take any weight-loss medications (or have taken any weight-loss medications in the past 6 months) or currently use medication which has substantial weight gain as a common side effect e.g. >20mg of prednisolone (Medications with minor effects on body weight and appetites such as contraceptives and antidepressants are not considered as exclusion criteria).
• Suffer from any major medical illness or have a history of major medical illness (in the last 5 years). Major medical illness includes: heart attack, stroke or cancer; or any overt metabolic, respiratory or neurological disease
• Current pregnancy or lactationCurrently participating in any other nutrition or weight loss program (e.g. Michelle Bridges’ 12-week Body Transformation) or seeing a nutrition professional (e.g., a dietitian)
•Smoking
• Weight loss of more than 4.5 kg (10 pounds) during the past 6 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Eating behaviour by Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q])[Baseline and follow up at week 12];Self-compassion by Self-compassion Scale (SCS)[Baseline and follow up at week 12];Dietary intake by the self-administered automated 24-hour dietary recall (using Intake24 tool) and Healthy eating Quiz (HEQ)[Baseline and follow up at week 12]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
self-reported body weight by weighing scales[Baseline and follow up at week 12];Mental wellbeing (Primary outcome) by Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21)[Baseline and follow up at week 12];Self-reported body height by tape measures [Baseline and follow up at week 12];Body Mass Index calculated by self-reported body weight (kg) assessed by weighing scales divided by the square of the self-reported body height (m) assessed by tape measures[Baseline and follow up at week 12]