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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Oct;24(10):2050-6.
doi: 10.1002/oby.21601.

Acceptance-based versus standard behavioral treatment for obesity: Results from the mind your health randomized controlled trial

Evan M Forman  1 , Meghan L Butryn  2 , Stephanie M Manasse  2 , Ross D Crosby  3   4 , Stephanie P Goldstein  2 , Emily P Wyckoff  2 , J Graham Thomas  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Acceptance-based versus standard behavioral treatment for obesity: Results from the mind your health randomized controlled trial

Evan M Forman et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, as well as potential moderators and mediators, of a revised acceptance-based behavioral treatment (ABT) for obesity, relative to standard behavioral treatment (SBT).

Methods: Participants with overweight and obesity (n = 190) were randomized to 25 sessions of ABT or SBT over 1 year. Primary outcome (weight), mediator, and moderator measurements were taken at baseline, 6 months, and/or 12 months, and weight was also measured every session.

Results: Participants assigned to ABT attained a significantly greater 12-month weight loss (13.3% ± 0.83%) than did those assigned to SBT (9.8% ± 0.87%; P = 0.005). A condition by quadratic time effect on session-by-session weights (P = 0.01) indicated that SBT had a shallower trajectory of weight loss followed by an upward deflection. ABT participants were also more likely to maintain a 10% weight loss at 12 months (64.0% vs. 48.9%; P = 0.04). No evidence of moderation was found. Results supported the mediating role of autonomous motivation and psychological acceptance of food-related urges.

Conclusions: Behavioral weight loss outcomes can be improved by integrating self-regulation skills that are reflected in acceptance-based treatment, i.e., tolerating discomfort and reduction in pleasure, enacting commitment to valued behavior, and being mindfully aware during moments of decision-making.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Forman reports grants from the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (award # R01 DK095069), during the conduct of the study. Dr. Crosby reports personal fees from Health Outcome Solutions, outside the submitted work. None of the remaining authors report a conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Diagram
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent weight loss by treatment condition over time
Figure 3
Figure 3
Session-by-session percent weight loss, with time modeled as the independent variable
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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