The Effects of Weight Science and Nutrition Education on Weight Control Beliefs and Disordered Eating.

An Experimental Study of the Effects of Weight Science and Nutrition Education on Weight Control Beliefs and Disordered Eating in a Non-clinical Female Sample.

People have different beliefs about controlling their weight. Individuals who believe they should control their weight are more likely to have poor body image, low self-esteem and disordered eating. Individuals who believe they should aim for a healthy lifestyle and accept their natural weight have better body image, better self-esteem and less disordered eating. This study investigates the impact of three types of education on participants' beliefs about controlling weight: 1) education about the body's natural regulation of weight; or 2) education about healthy nutrition; or 3) education about both the body's regulation of weight and healthy nutrition. The study will also investigate whether changing participants' beliefs about controlling weight impacts participants' body satisfaction, feelings about themselves and intention to diet. It is predicted that teaching both about the body's regulation of weight and healthy eating will decrease participants' belief in personal control over weight, and increase participants' belief in striving for a healthy lifestyle and accepting their natural weight. In turn, these changes in weight control beliefs are expect to predict improved body satisfaction, feelings about themselves and a lower intention to diet.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Body Image; Eating, Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Weight Science Educational Video; Other: Healthy Eating Educational Video; Other: Healthy Sleep Educational Video

Detailed Description

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) weight science + control (sleep education); 2) control (sleep education) + healthy nutrition education; or 3) weight science + healthy nutrition education. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three conditions by an algorithm in REDCap. The same procedure will be used for each condition, with the exception of what education is provided.

After the online consent form is completed, participants will be automatically redirected to the study questionnaires in REDCap. Participants will complete a package of questionnaires pre- and post- intervention measuring demographic information, physical activity, knowledge of weight science, weight control beliefs, self-esteem, restrained eating, body appreciation, self-compassion for weight and shape and fear of self-compassion for weight and shape. Participants will complete the package of questionnaires prior to watching two educational videos embedded into the REDCap project, and then complete the same package of questionnaires again.

After watching the educational videos and completing the study questionnaires, participants will receive a copy of the debriefing form, which provides further information about the study purpose, independent and dependent variables, local mental health resources, and contact information for the LPI. The debriefing form will be emailed to participants via McMaster Outlook using the email encryption function. If participants do not complete the study questionnaires, the debriefing form will be sent to participants after their study time slot has closed.

The data will be collected and stored through the secure online data collection platform REDCap, which is managed by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. REDCap is a secure, encrypted data collection platform that requires two-factor authentication for access to study data. REDCap is located within the secure internal SJHH network, and is protected by firewall software (Checkpoint software).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 150
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Michele Laliberte, PhD; Phone Number: 33433 (905) 522-1155; Email: mlaliber@stjoes.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 17 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 17 years of age or older
• Female
• Normal hearing with or without listening device

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently diagnosed with an eating disorder
• Has received treatment for an eating disorder at any point in time

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Weight Science + Healthy Eating Education; In this condition participants will watch two educational videos on the topics of weight science, and healthy eating. The videos were created by a registered psychologist and are each between 20 and 30 minutes in length.	Other: Weight Science Educational Video; Educational videos on the topic of weight science created by a registered clinical psychologist.; Other: Healthy Eating Educational Video; Educational videos on the topic of healthy eating created by a registered clinical psychologist.
Other: Weight Science + Healthy Sleep Education; In this condition participants will watch two educational videos on the topics of weight science, and healthy sleep. The videos were created by a registered psychologist and are each between 20 and 30 minutes in length. We are interested in the effect of weight science education alone, the healthy sleep video was added as an active control so that each condition was watching the same amount of videos.	Other: Weight Science Educational Video; Educational videos on the topic of weight science created by a registered clinical psychologist.; Other: Healthy Sleep Educational Video; Educational videos on the topic of healthy sleep created by a registered clinical psychologist.
Other: Healthy Eating + Healthy Sleep Education; In this condition participants will watch two educational videos on the topics of healthy eating, and healthy sleep. The videos were created by a registered psychologist and are each between 20 and 30 minutes in length. We are interested in the effect of healthy eating education alone, the healthy sleep video was added as an active control so that each condition was watching the same amount of videos.	Other: Healthy Eating Educational Video; Educational videos on the topic of healthy eating created by a registered clinical psychologist.; Other: Healthy Sleep Educational Video; Educational videos on the topic of healthy sleep created by a registered clinical psychologist.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in measure of the Belief in Controlling Weight scale from baseline to post-intervention	Weight Control Beliefs Questionnaire - Belief in Control over Weight (BCWeight) scale. This is a validated self-report measure of the individual's belief in personal control over weight. The minimum score is 9 (low belief in controlling weight) and the maximum score is 36 (high belief in controlling weight). A higher score has been associated with negative/worse outcomes.	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.
Change in measure of the Belief in Controlling Lifestyle scale from baseline to post-intervention	Weight Control Beliefs Questionnaire - Belief in Control over Lifestyle (BCLifestyle) scale. This is a validated self-report measure of the individual's belief in striving for a healthy lifestyle with acceptance of the resulting weight. The minimum score is 8 (low belief in striving for a healthy lifestyle with acceptance of resulting weight) and the maximum score is 32 (high belief in striving for a healthy lifestyle with acceptance of resulting weight). A higher score has been associated with positive/better outcomes.	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in measure of Self-Esteem from baseline to post-intervention	Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. This is a validated self-report measure of self-esteem. The minimum score is 10 and the maximum score is 40. A higher score indicates higher self-esteem (positive/better outcome).	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.
Change in measure of Intentions to engage in dietary restraint from baseline to post-intervention	The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire - Restraint Sub-scale, modified to assess intentions to engage in dietary restraint rather than dietary restraint over the past 28 days. Items are otherwise identical to original scale, which is a well-validated self-report measure. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 25. A higher score indicates greater intentions to engage in dietary restraint (negative/worse outcome).	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.
Change in measure of Body Appreciation from baseline to post-intervention	Body Appreciation Scale - 2. This is a well-validated self-report measure of positive attitudes towards one's body. The minimum score is 10 and the maximum score is 50. A higher score indicates greater appreciation for one's body (positive/better outcome).	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.
Change in measure of Fear of Self-Compassion for Weight and Shape from baseline to post-intervention	Fear of Self-Compassion for Weight and Shape Scale. This scale is based on the Fear of Self-Compassion Scale (a well-validated self-report measure) with items modified to measure a fear of self-compassion for one's weight and shape. Items are otherwise identical to the original scale and recent findings suggests the modified scale has maintained its psychometric properties. The minimum score is 15 and the maximum score is 75. A higher score indicates more fear of self-compassion for ones weight and shape (a negative/worse outcome).	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.
Change in measure of Self-Compassion for Weight & Shape from baseline to post-intervention	Self-Compassion for Weight & Shape Scale. This scale is based on the Self-Compassion scale (a well-validated self-report measure), modified to measure self-compassion for weight and shape. Items are otherwise identical to the original scale and recent findings suggest the modified scale retains good psychometric properties. The minimum score is 12 and the maximum score is 60. A higher score indicates more self-compassion for ones weight and shape (a positive/better outcome).	Baseline (questionnaires administered prior to watching videos) and Post-Intervention (questionnaires administered after watching the videos) approximately 1 hour after completing baseline questionnaires.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michele Laliberte, PhD, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fairburn CG, Beglin SJ. Assessment of eating disorders: interview or self-report questionnaire? Int J Eat Disord. 1994 Dec;16(4):363-70.
• Tylka TL, Wood-Barcalow NL. The Body Appreciation Scale-2: item refinement and psychometric evaluation. Body Image. 2015 Jan;12:53-67. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.09.006. Epub 2014 Oct 21.
• Wilkerson AH, Hackman CL, Rush SE, Usdan SL, Smith CS. "Drunkorexia": Understanding eating and physical activity behaviors of weight conscious drinkers in a sample of college students. J Am Coll Health. 2017 Oct;65(7):492-501. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2017.1344848. Epub 2017 Jun 22.
• Laliberte MM, Newton M, McCabe R, & Mills JS. Controlling Your Weight Versus Controlling Your Lifestyle: How Beliefs about Weight Control Affect Risk for Disordered Eating, 10534_2006_9060_Fig3_HTML.gif Dissatisfaction and Self-esteem. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 2007; 31(6): 853-869.
• Rosenberg M. Society and the Adolescent Self-Image (Revised edition). Wesleyan University Press. 1989.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): January 9, 2023
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): March 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): September 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 29, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2023
• First Posted (Estimate): January 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 13, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 4, 2023
• Last Verified: January 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Body Image; Weight control beliefs; Diet, Weight Loss; Eating, Healthy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight
• Other Study ID Numbers: STJOES2022WCB

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No