The ACTyourCHANGE study protocol: promoting a healthy lifestyle in patients with obesity with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background As treatment of choice in promoting psychological flexibility, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was found to be effective several conditions, among different populations, including weight management individuals with obesity. However, the mechanism action flexibility is less known. The aim present study is, within context a brief ACT intervention for behavioral change maintenance healthy lifestyle sample inpatients obesity, explore effect each subcomponent model on processes outcomes. Methods A randomized controlled trial will conducted. Ninety Italian adult obesity attending rehabilitation program loss randomly allocated into three experimental conditions targeting respectively model: group Engage focused values-oriented behaviors, Openness acceptance cognitive defusion, Awareness being aware thoughts, feelings, behaviors at every moment. Weight, BMI (kg/m 2 ), Psychological General Well-Being Inventory (PGWBI), Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ-45.2), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Difficulties Emotion Regulation (DERS), Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire (DEBQ), Brief Values (BVI), Committed Action (CAQ), Italian-Cognitive Fusion (I-CFQ), Five Facet Mindfulness (FFMQ), (AAQ-II) assessed beginning (time 0), end 1), after 3 2) 6 months 3) 9 4) from discharge. During following month discharge, outpatients monitored their adherence lifestyle, using wearable device. To assess effectiveness intervention, mixed between-within (conditions) × 4 (times) repeated measure ANOVAs conducted examine changes time 0 1, 2, 3, means weight, BMI, scores PGWBI, OQ-45.2, DASS, DERS, DEBQ, AAQ-II, BVI, CAQ, I-CFQ, FFMQ, between groups. Discussion This contribute clarify understand its impact promotion lifestyle. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04474509 . Registered July 4, 2020