The Role of Values, Acceptance, and Mindfulness Strategies in Long Term Weight Management

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Obesity is a prevalent, destructive, and costly chronic disease. In 2008, 37% of Canadian adults were measured as overweight, and 25% as obese. Obesity is a risk factor for a number of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, asthma, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, chronic back pain, several types of cancers (i.e., colorectal, kidney, breast, endometrial, ovarian and pancreatic cancers) and cardiovascular disease (i.e., hypertension, stroke, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease). In 2008, it was estimated that the annual economic burden of obesity in Canada was $4.6 billion. Given the economic strain and widespread health risks of obesity, there is a clear need to provide effective interventions for obesity. The purpose of the proposed study is to examine the role of ACT-based interventions in long-term weight maintenance. The proposed study will examine the role of value consistent behaviour, acceptance skills, and mindfulness skills in promoting long-term weight-related health behaviours. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported psychological intervention that emphasizes value consistent behaviours, acceptance skills and mindfulness skills.

Detailed Description
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Participants will be recruited from the weight loss surgery waitlist and randomly assigned to a brief (5 sessions) ACT intervention or to waitlist control group. A mobile app will be used to encourage daily ACT skill practice and track health behaviours over time. The primary objective of the proposed project is to test whether a brief ACT intervention can result in sustained weight management (at 6 months and 1 year) compared to a waitlist control group. If this brief format of ACT intervention for obesity proves to be effective in encouraging health behaviours and weight loss, it may provide a low cost, sustainable option to enhance much needed obesity management services in Nova Scotia.

Official Title
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The Role of Values, Acceptance, and Mindfulness Strategies in Long Term Weight Management

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: BMI above 30 who are participating in Weight Loss Surgery program at the Nova Scotia Health Authority Exclusion Criteria: None

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy<br>ACT intervention | Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy<br>* weight-related interventions using values, acceptance, and mindfulness based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| health behaviours (self-report questionnaires) | engagement in weight related health behaviours (i.e., dietary choices) | 5 years | 
| health behaviours (self-report questionnaires) | engagement in weight related health behaviours (i.e., physical activity) | 5 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| acceptance (self-report questionnaire) | ability to acknowledge and tolerate distressing thoughts, feelings, and sensations (total score is used) | 5 years | 
| mindfulness (self-report questionnaire) | ability to engage in purposeful, present-moment awareness | 5 years |