A Brief Virtual ACT Workshop for Emotional Eating

September 3, 2021 updated by: Barbel Knauper, McGill University
Emotional eating is a behaviour that has been linked to weight concerns, mental health concerns, and disordered eating. Effective interventions have been developed to treat emotional eating, however these exist solely in the context of promoting weight loss. Emotional eating is not exclusive to those who struggle with weight and thus interventions are needed that target those who engage in emotional eating regardless of their weight status. The present study aims to do so through the implementation of a brief online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop for emotional eaters.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Emotional eating is defined as increased food consumption in response to negative emotions, and has been linked to weight concerns, mental health concerns, and disordered eating behaviours. Effective interventions have been developed that address emotional eating, namely to improve weight loss. Such interventions are based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which encourages tolerance of internal cues, such as emotions, and external cues, such as food.

Previous studies have found that brief ACT interventions are effective for the reduction of emotional eating. Our laboratory has recently developed and pilot-tested a one-day ACT workshop intervention for emotional eating, which was found to be effective for reducing emotional eating and deemed feasible and acceptable by participants.

The present study was developed with the aim to adapt the above mentioned workshop intervention to an online format in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The study aims to test the efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a brief, online version of the above mentioned one-day ACT workshop for emotional eating. The workshops will be delivered through the Zoom online platform.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Quebec
      • Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H3A1G1
        • McGill University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Self-identifying as emotional-eater
  • Being over the age of 18

Exclusion Criteria:

- N/A

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Online ACT workshop for Emotional Eating
All participants will be assigned to 2, 1.5 hour interventions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) techniques to help reduce emotional eating.
This is a brief online intervention using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) technique to target and reduce emotional eating. The intervention will be modeled after Frayn and Knäuper's 1-day ACT workshop for emotional eating intervention, which was derived from Forman and colleagues' "Mind Your Health Program". During the workshop, the following topics will be discussed, based on the three processes of ACT: (1) values clarification/commitment, (2) acceptance/distress tolerance, and (3) mindfulness/awareness.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Emotional Eating - Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Emotional eating, as assessed by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire Emotional Eating Subscale (DEBQ-EE). Participants are asked to rate the frequency with which they engage in particular eating behaviours, on a 5-point Likert-type rating scale from never (1) to very often (5), with higher scores reflecting higher emotional eating. Only the emotional eating subscale of the DEBQ will be assessed and is calculated by averaging the 13 items that assess emotional eating.
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Emotional Eating - 2 weeks post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Emotional eating, as assessed by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire Emotional Eating Subscale (DEBQ-EE). Participants are asked to rate the frequency with which they engage in particular eating behaviours, on a 5-point Likert-type rating scale from never (1) to very often (5), with higher scores reflecting higher emotional eating. Only the emotional eating subscale of the DEBQ will be assessed and is calculated by averaging the 13 items that assess emotional eating.
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Emotional Eating - 3 months Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Emotional eating, as assessed by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire Emotional Eating Subscale (DEBQ-EE). Participants are asked to rate the frequency with which they engage in particular eating behaviours, on a 5-point Likert-type rating scale from never (1) to very often (5), with higher scores reflecting higher emotional eating. Only the emotional eating subscale of the DEBQ will be assessed and is calculated by averaging the 13 items that assess emotional eating.
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Distress Tolerance - Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Distress tolerance, as assessed by the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which they agree with statements aimed at assessing distress tolerance, absorption, appraisal, and regulation from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree), with lower scores reflecting lower distress tolerance. Subscale scores are derived by calculating the means of the items that make up each subscale. Total score is calculating by averaging the four subscales.
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Distress Tolerance - 2-weeks Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Distress tolerance, as assessed by the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which they agree with statements aimed at assessing distress tolerance, absorption, appraisal, and regulation from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree), with lower scores reflecting lower distress tolerance. Subscale scores are derived by calculating the means of the items that make up each subscale. Total score is calculating by averaging the four subscales.
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Distress Tolerance - 3-months Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Distress tolerance, as assessed by the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which they agree with statements aimed at assessing distress tolerance, absorption, appraisal, and regulation from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree), with lower scores reflecting lower distress tolerance. Subscale scores are derived by calculating the means of the items that make up each subscale. Total score is calculating by averaging the four subscales.
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Food Craving Acceptance and Action - Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Food craving acceptance and action, as assessed by the Food Craving Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (FAAQ). Items are rated on a 6-point Likert-type rating scale from 1 (very seldom true) to 6 (always true), with higher scores reflecting higher acceptance. Total score is derived by summing all items. Minimum score is 10 and maximum score is 60.
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Food Craving Acceptance and Action - 2-weeks Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Food craving acceptance and action, as assessed by the Food Craving Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (FAAQ). Items are rated on a 6-point Likert-type rating scale from 1 (very seldom true) to 6 (always true), with higher scores reflecting higher acceptance. Total score is derived by summing all items. Minimum score is 10 and maximum score is 60.
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Food Craving Acceptance and Action - 3-months Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Food craving acceptance and action, as assessed by the Food Craving Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (FAAQ). Items are rated on a 6-point Likert-type rating scale from 1 (very seldom true) to 6 (always true), with higher scores reflecting higher acceptance. Total score is derived by summing all items. Minimum score is 10 and maximum score is 60.
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Mindful Eating - Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Mindful eating, as assessed by the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). It is a 28-item self-report measure that assesses five domains of mindful eating: disinhibition, external cues, awareness, emotional response and distraction. Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which extent they agree with each item from 1 ("never" / "rarely") to 4 ("usually"/ "always"), with higher scores reflecting higher levels of mindful eating. Total score is derived by taking the mean of the five subscales.
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Mindful Eating - 2-weeks Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Mindful eating, as assessed by the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). It is a 28-item self-report measure that assesses five domains of mindful eating: disinhibition, external cues, awareness, emotional response and distraction. Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which extent they agree with each item from 1 ("never" / "rarely") to 4 ("usually"/ "always"), with higher scores reflecting higher levels of mindful eating. Total score is derived by taking the mean of the five subscales.
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Mindful Eating - 3-months Post-Intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Mindful eating, as assessed by the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). It is a 28-item self-report measure that assesses five domains of mindful eating: disinhibition, external cues, awareness, emotional response and distraction. Participants are asked to indicate the extent to which extent they agree with each item from 1 ("never" / "rarely") to 4 ("usually"/ "always"), with higher scores reflecting higher levels of mindful eating. Total score is derived by taking the mean of the five subscales.
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
ACT Values Application - Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Application of ACT values techniques taught during the workshop, as assessed by items developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with a number of value-based statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Values score was derived by taking the mean of the items, with higher scores reflecting greater value-consistent eating behaviors.
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
ACT Values Application - 2-weeks Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Application of ACT values techniques taught during the workshop, as assessed by items developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with a number of value-based statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Values score was derived by taking the mean of the items, with higher scores reflecting greater value-consistent eating behaviors.
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
ACT Values Application - 3-months Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Application of ACT values techniques taught during the workshop, as assessed by items developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with a number of value-based statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Values score was derived by taking the mean of the items, with higher scores reflecting greater value-consistent eating behaviors.
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Emotional Eating Frequency - Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
As assessed by a self-report item developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to report the number of times they engaged in emotional eating in the past week.
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Emotional Eating Frequency - 2-weeks Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
As assessed by a self-report item developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to report the number of times they engaged in emotional eating in the past week.
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Emotional Eating Frequency - 3-months Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
As assessed by a self-report item developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to report the number of times they engaged in emotional eating in the past week.
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Ability to Stop Emotional Eating - Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
As assessed by a single self-report item developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to report the number of instances in which they began to engage in emotional eating and were able to stop themselves, on a scale from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (very often).
Assessed at post-intervention (1 week following the first session)
Ability to Stop Emotional Eating - 2-weeks Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
As assessed by a single self-report item developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to report the number of instances in which they began to engage in emotional eating and were able to stop themselves, on a scale from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (very often).
Assessed 2-weeks following the second (last) session
Ability to Stop Emotional Eating - 3-months Post-intervention
Time Frame: Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
As assessed by a single self-report item developed by the study's authors. Participants were asked to report the number of instances in which they began to engage in emotional eating and were able to stop themselves, on a scale from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (very often).
Assessed 3-months following the second (last) session
Feasibility Data: Recruitment Rates
Time Frame: Assessed during the recruitment period (i.e. over a period of 2 months)
Overall number of participants who expressed interest in the workshop over the recruitment period.
Assessed during the recruitment period (i.e. over a period of 2 months)
Feasibility Data: Workshop Attendance Rates
Time Frame: Assessed during the treatment period: from baseline to post-treatment (i.e. over the course of 1 week).
Number of participants who received the intervention (i.e. who attended both workshop sessions) out of the number of participants who signed up.
Assessed during the treatment period: from baseline to post-treatment (i.e. over the course of 1 week).
Feasibility Data: Dropout Rates
Time Frame: Assessed from baseline to the 3-month follow-up assessment.
Number of participants who have dropped out or withdrawn from the study at any time point from baseline assessment to last follow-up assessment. Number of dropouts and withdrawals will be kept track of at each study time-point.
Assessed from baseline to the 3-month follow-up assessment.
Feasibility Data: Loss-to-Follow-Up Rates
Time Frame: Assessed at the 2-week follow-up time point and the 3-month follow-up time point.
Number of participants (out of those who have attended the workshop) who have not completed the follow-up questionnaire(s). The number of participants with missing follow-up data will be kept track of at all follow-up time points (post-treatment, 2-week follow-up, and 3-month follow-up).
Assessed at the 2-week follow-up time point and the 3-month follow-up time point.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 18, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 25, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

September 25, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 22, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

July 7, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 5, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 3, 2021

Last Verified

September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 01 (Miami VAHS)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Eating Behavior

Clinical Trials on Virtual ACT Workshop for Emotional Eating

3
Subscribe