Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
mental contrasting, weight loss, obese couples, obesity, overweight, planning, health, diet, exercise, physical activity, goal, goal-setting
Brief summary
This study explores among couples in which both members are obese how the use of mental contrasting along with implementation intentions influence intentions and behavior related to weight loss (eating healthy and exercise), actual weight loss, as well as potential reasons (i.e., mediators) why these changes may occur (e.g., social support, changes in beliefs about weight loss, confidence in being able to eat healthy and diet).
Detailed description
This study explores among couples in which both members are obese how the use of mental contrasting along with implementation intentions influence intentions and behaviors related to weight loss (eating healthy and exercise), actual weight loss, as well as potential reasons (i.e., mediators) why these changes may occur (e.g., social support, changes in beliefs about weight loss, confidence in being able to eat healthy and diet). In mental contrasting procedures, people first imagine a desired future (e.g., eating healthy) and then reflect on the current negative reality (e.g., I snack too much). This process makes people aware of changes needed in the present to obtain future positive outcomes, and thus aids in increasing goal commitment and goal pursuit. In implementation intention procedures, individuals form if-then statements about how they will enact their goals in their everyday lives. Implementation intentions are highly effective at helping individuals achieve health behavior change. Recent studies suggest that the combined use of mental contrasting and implementation intentions produce more behavior change than either technique alone (e.g., diet) In this study, investigators test whether these procedures vary in their effectiveness when couple members are instructed to focus on themselves versus the relationship, the latter intended to instill a communal coping mindset (i.e., that losing weight is an issue that needs to be addressed as a couple enacted through mutually cooperative behaviors).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMental Contrasting- Individual
Investigators will implement the manipulation of mental contrasting/implementation intentions, focusing on the individual. This will entail 3 steps that involve: 1) contrasting of positive future outcomes associated with present conditions that hinder achievement of positive future outcomes (i.e., barriers); 2) strategies to overcome barriers and hence facilitate weight loss; and 3) construction of implementation intentions.
BEHAVIORALMental Contrasting- Couple
Investigators will implement the manipulation of mental contrasting/implementation intentions, focusing on the couple. This will entail 3 steps that involve: 1) contrasting of positive future outcomes associated with present conditions that hinder achievement of positive future outcomes (i.e., barriers); 2) strategies to overcome barriers and hence facilitate weight loss; and 3) construction of implementation intentions.
Sponsors
Duke University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Married couples or couples living as married * living in the same household for at least six months * both members of couple are obese (BMI \> 30). * must be 18 years or older * can read and write in English
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| weight loss | one month | Measure weight loss between baseline and one month visits |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| dietary changes | one month | Look at dietary changes in self-report questionnaire. |
| number of minutes of physical activity | one month | Measure minutes of physical activity through self-report questionnaire. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed