Effectiveness Trial of a Dissonance-Based Obesity Prevention Program



Status:Completed
Conditions:Obesity Weight Loss, Psychiatric, Eating Disorder
Therapuetic Areas:Endocrinology, Psychiatry / Psychology
Healthy:No
Age Range:17 - 23
Updated:9/23/2018
Start Date:September 1, 2012
End Date:May 31, 2018

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Obesity is a major US public health problem. Few obesity prevention programs have reduced
risk for weight gain over follow-up and those that have are very intensive, making
dissemination difficult and costly. A brief 3-hr selective prevention program (Healthy
Weight) targeting young adults with body dissatisfaction involving participant-driven healthy
dietary and physical activity lifestyle changes significantly reduced increases in body mass
index (BMI) and obesity onset relative to alternative interventions and assessment-only
controls through 3-yr follow-up, though effects were small in magnitude. To enhance efficacy,
the investigators added dissonance-inducing activities regarding unhealthy dietary and
activity practices, drawing from a highly efficacious dissonance-based eating disorder
prevention program. A pilot trial found that this new Project Health intervention
significantly reduced increases in BMI relative to both the Healthy Weight intervention and
an educational brochure condition from pre to post. The investigators propose to conduct a
rigorous multisite effectiveness trial that will test whether adding the dissonance-induction
elements to the originally Healthy Weight intervention improves weight gain prevention
effects. 360 college students at risk for future weight by virtue of their age and weight
concerns will be randomized one of three conditions: (1) a refined 6-hr group-based
dissonance-based Project Health, (2) a 6-hr group-based Healthy Weight intervention, or (3) a
psychoeducational video ("Weight of the World") condition. Participants will complete
assessments of % body fat, mediators (including objectively measured physical activity),
moderators, and other outcomes at pre, post, and 6, 12, and 24 month follow-ups.

Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that Project Health significantly reduces increases in % body
fat relative to the Healthy Weight intervention and video control condition during a 2-yr
follow-up; secondary outcomes are BMI, depressive symptoms and eating disorder symptoms. The
investigators will also compare Healthy Weight to video controls.

Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that Project Health participants will experience increased
cognitive dissonance (an uncomfortable psychological state) regarding eating unhealthy foods
and engaging in sedentary behaviors, and that changes in dissonance mediate the program's
weight gain prevention effects. The investigators will also test whether reduced calorie
intake and increased physical activity mediate the effects of Project Health on change in %
body fat.

Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that intervention effects are amplified for participants with
elevated body dissatisfaction (which should increase motivation change) and preference for
consistency (which should maximize dissonance induction) and mitigated for participants who
report emotional eating and substance use (because these factors increase risk for
overeating).

Inclusion Criteria:

- University student

- Presents with self-reported "weight concerns"

Exclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of Eating Disorder

- Obese

- Underweight

- Non-english speaking
We found this trial at
4
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Eugene, Oregon 97403
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Austin, Texas 78712
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Corvallis, Oregon 97331
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Eugene, Oregon 97401
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Eugene, OR
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