Introduction
Welcome to our study.
Worldwide, obesity has more than doubled since 1980. Currently, over two third of men (70%) and over half of women (56%) are overweight in Australia. The cost of weight related treatment is high for individuals and is often associated with a ‘one-size fits all’ model of health. When people do not fit into a ‘one-size fits all model’ some can start to feel ashamed of their bodies and self-criticism can develop in relation to trying to lose weight or obtain the perfect body.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) was developed specifically for individuals with high levels of shame and self-criticism. The aim of CFT is to improve overall wellbeing to individuals experiencing weight related shame associated with obesity. This is achieved through compassionate mind training.
Requirements
- Participants who wish to participate in the study will be required to attend a 12-consecutive-week group Compassion Focused Therapy session at the School of Psychology, the University of Queensland, St Lucia.
- Each session will run for 120 minutes, each group will have between 8-10 participants, with 2 facilitators (a registered clinical psychologist and a provisional psychologist), and group programs will start in January 2019. We are aiming to run groups on Monday or Thursday.
- Spaces are limited for the program. In total we will be recruiting up to 80 participants. We will be recruiting from the end of 2018 for the Pilot Trial and all of 2019 or until spaces are filled for the larger study.
- Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires at specified time points of the trial; T1 (upon recruitment), at T2 at week 12 (the completion of therapy), T3 (6 months after the completion of the program). Upon completing the 6 month follow-up, participants will be given the opportunity to display interest in a 12 month follow-up. This is not mandatory.
- At week 6, based on therapy protocol, some online questions will be asked in order to check in with program process.
- Online assessment will take approximately. 30-40 minutes. It is important that participants complete these assessment items in the week they are administered.
- To assess the physiological changes of compassion-focused therapy, participants will be required to complete a heart rate variability (HRV) assessment will be at T1 and T2.
- Reimbursement for your time involved in the study will be provided at the completion of T2 HRV assessment. At this time, you will receive $20 for your participation.
- There is no cost, outside of the time to complete the questionnaires. All sessions are free. Free parking will be provided during assessment times.
Eligibility
- Participants must be over the age of 18.
- Participants must have a weight related shame. This will be assessed over the phone.
- Participants must have a BMI greater than 30. This can be calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by your height (in metres squared) BMI = kg/m2. Alternatively you can follow this link to the heart foundation:
www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-your-risks/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator
- Participants must not be receiving psychological interventions of any kind.