Supporting Weight Management during COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Web-Based, ACT-Based, Guided Self-Help Intervention

Conventional weight loss therapy in morbid obesity during COVID-19 pandemic: degree of burdens at baseline and treatment efficacy

Introduction

COVID-19 affected global physical and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to explore the pandemics impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health (anxiety, depression, and perceived stress) and eating behavior in people with severe obesity participating in a multimodal conservative behavioral weight loss (BWL) program conducted via videoconferencing. Additionally, the efficacy of the six-month BWL program in a virtual video-based setting during the pandemic was examined.

Methods

297 participants of a face-to-face multimodal behavioral weight loss program prior to the pandemic (PrePAN, May 2014-September 2019) and 146 participants of the in terms of content same intervention in a videoconference-based setting during the pandemic (PAN, July 2020-April 2022) were questioned and compared using standardized questionnaires for HRQoL, symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders, perceived stress, and eating behavior at baseline and at the end of treatment.

Results

Symptoms for anxiety, depression and perceived stress were similar between PrePAN and PAN at baseline. In addition, PAN tended to show lower disinhibition of eating behavior and feelings of hunger than PrePAN. During the pandemic, the BWL intervention resulted in body weight loss (67%) or stabilization (16%) in most of the participants. It also contributed by improving physical HRQoL, lower worries, and improved eating behaviors compared to baseline.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, baseline mental health of people with morbid obesity was not worse than before the pandemic. Additionally, the BWL intervention in the virtual video-based setting stabilized and improved physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The moderating and mediating role of eating behaviour traits in acceptance and commitment therapy-based weight management interventions: protocol for an individual participant data meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Precision medicine approaches to obesity aim to maximise treatment effectiveness by matching weight management interventions (WMIs) to characteristics of individuals, such as eating behaviour traits (EBTs). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based WMIs may address EBTs such as emotional and uncontrolled eating more effectively than standard interventions, and might be most effective in people with high levels of these traits. However, few studies have examined this directly. We will examine (a) whether ACT-based interventions are more effective for people with certain levels of EBTs (ie, moderation) and (b) whether ACT-based interventions operate through changes in EBTs (ie, mediation).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Individual Participant Data guidance. We will include studies on ACT-based WMIs that assessed EBTs in people with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2. We identified studies by screening studies included in a previous review of third wave cognitive behavioural interventions, and updating the search to 20 June 2022. We will request IPD from eligible published and unpublished studies. We will harmonise and re-analyse data using a two-stage random effects meta-analysis pooling within-trial interactions to investigate moderating effects and using a one-stage simultaneous equation model to examine mediating effects. We will assess the risk of bias in included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2 and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee (Application No: PRE.2023.121). Data sharing will follow data transfer agreements and coauthorship will be offered to investigators contributing data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conferences and will contribute to the lead author's PhD thesis.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022359691.

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on weight, eating behaviours and psychological outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To examine the effectiveness of ACT on weight (body mass index and body mass), eating behaviours (binge eating, emotional eating, external eating and restraint eating), and psychological outcomes (quality of life [QoL], depression, psychological flexibility, and weight stigma) among adults with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

Seven electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycInfo Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were searched from inception through 17 June 2022. 13 studies and 48 unique effect sizes were analyzed using random-effects models. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using weighted mean differences (WMD) and standardized mean differences expressed in Hedges' g (g). Heterogeneity was assessed using Q-statistics and interpreted using I².

RESULTS

ACT was found to be effective in improving weight loss in terms of BMI (k = 6, WMD = - .50, 95% CI = - .90; - .11, t = - 3.25, p = .20, I² = .0%), psychological flexibility and weight-related stigma. However, non-significant changes were found for body mass (k = 4, WMD = - 0.33 95% CI = - 1.53; 0.87, t = - .88, p = .44, I² = .0%), binge eating (k = 4, g = - .34, 95% CI = - 1.31; 0.62, t = - 1.13, p = .34, I² = 71.1%), emotional eating (k = 6, g = - .20, 95% CI = - 0.54; 0.15, t = - 1.47, p = .20, I² = 45.0%), external eating (k = 5, g = - .40, 95% CI = 0.96; 0.16, t = - 1.99, p = .12, I² = 81.8%), restraint eating (k = 3, g = .22 95% CI = - 0.57; 1.01, t = 1.19, p = .36, I² = 69.1%), QoL (k = 3, g = .01, 95% CI = - 1.51; 1.52, t = .02, p = .99, I² = 90.2%) and depression (k = 3, g = - .55, 95% CI = - 1.78; 0.67, t = - 1.94, p = .19, I² = 79.9%).

CONCLUSION

ACT could be effective in improving weight loss but more studies are needed to ascertain its effectiveness and the underlying mechanism by which the various components influence weight-related outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Evidence obtained from a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing empirical studies.

Supporting Weight Management during COVID-19 (SWiM-C): twelve-month follow-up of a randomised controlled trial of a web-based, ACT-based, guided self-help intervention

OBJECTIVES

We developed a guided self-help intervention (Supporting Weight Management during COVID-19, "SWiM-C") to support adults with overweight or obesity in their weight management during the COVID-19 pandemic. This parallel, two-group trial (ISRCTN12107048) evaluated the effect of SWiM-C on weight and determinants of weight management over twelve months.

METHODS

Participants (≥18 years, body-mass-index ≥25 kg/m²) were randomised to the SWiM-C intervention or to a standard advice group (unblinded). Participants completed online questionnaires at baseline, four months, and twelve months. The primary outcome was change in self-reported weight from baseline to twelve months; secondary outcomes were eating behaviour (uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, cognitive restraint of food intake), experiential avoidance, depression, anxiety, stress, wellbeing and physical activity.

INTERVENTIONS

SWiM-C is based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Participants had access to an online web platform with 12 weekly modules and email and telephone contact with a trained, non-specialist coach. Standard advice was a leaflet on managing weight and mood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

388 participants were randomised (SWiM-C: n = 192, standard advice: n = 196). The baseline-adjusted difference in weight change between SWiM-C (n = 119) and standard advice (n = 147) was -0.81 kg (95% CI: -2.24 to 0.61 kg). SWiM-C participants reported a reduction in experiential avoidance (-2.45 [scale:10-70], 95% CI: -4.75 to -0.15), uncontrolled eating (-3.36 [scale: 0-100], 95% CI: -5.66 to -1.06), and emotional eating (-4.14 [scale:0-100], 95% CI: -7.25 to -1.02) and an increase in physical activity (8.96 [MET-min/week], 95% CI: 0.29 to 17.62) compared to standard advice participants. We found no evidence of an effect on remaining outcomes. No adverse events/side effects were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst we were unable to conclude that the intervention had an effect on weight, SWiM-C improved eating behaviours, experiential avoidance and physical activity. Further refinement of the intervention is necessary to ensure meaningful effects on weight prior to implementation in practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN 12107048.

Participants' experiences of mental health during a COVID-19 tailored ACT-based behavioural weight management intervention: a qualitative study

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore participants' experiences of mental health during an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based guided self-help intervention to support weight management in adults with overweight or obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic (SWiM-C: Supporting Weight Management during COVID-19).

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with twenty participants and used reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning across the dataset relevant to mental health.

RESULTS

Four themes were conceptualized: i) Mental health changes associated with SWiM-C, ii) External factors negatively impacted mental health and intervention engagement, iii) Use and impact of coping responses, and iv) Intervention preferences based on psychological needs.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that participants were exposed to multiple factors, both related to and external to the intervention, that negatively impact their mental health, yet ACT-based aspects of the SWiM-C intervention appeared to support participants to adaptively manage the decline in their mental health. The findings can be used to inform the development of future weight management interventions, such as through intervention personalization and the inclusion of more strategies that target emotional regulation.Trial registration: ISRCTN 12107048, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12107048.