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An Open Trial Targeting Weight-Related Psychological Difficulties Among Young Adults with Overweight or Obesity During COVID-19 Lockdown

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Advancing Sports and Exercise via Innovation

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Bioengineering ((LNBE))

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Abstract

Weight-related psychological difficulties (WRD) are associated with overweight and obesity including among young adults. We developed a program called ACT-EX (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Exercise), which incorporates six processes to increase weight-related psychological flexibility: acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, self-as-context, values, and committed action for young adults who are overweight or obese (OW/OB). This open trial evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the ACT-EX program. Fifty young adults who were OW/OB (78% female, 22% male; mean age = 21.32 years (SD = 1.2); Body Mass Index (BMI) = 30.01 kg/m2 (SD = 4.63); 36% Malay; 28% Bumiputera Sarawak; 20% Chinese; and Bumiputera Sabah and Indians, 4% each) participated in a 6-week intervention and 6-week follow-up study. The WRD was measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties Revised-18 (AAQW-R18). The ACT-EX program was well accepted. Significant decreases were seen in WRD in the post-intervention program and at the 6-week follow-up time (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.05). Participants who participated in the intervention program showed a significant weight loss. This trial provides preliminary evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the ACT-EX program among young adults who are OW/OB. In conclusion, the ACT-EX showed beneficial effects on reducing WRD and improving BMI. A controlled and randomized trial is warranted to further examine the effectiveness of ACT intervention in behavioral and weight management.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the Medical Ethics Committees, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Research for the ethical approval. Not to forget the university students who participated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Patricia Pawa Pitil & Siti Raudzah Ghazali

  2. Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sarawak Branch, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Patricia Pawa Pitil

Authors
  1. Patricia Pawa Pitil
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  2. Siti Raudzah Ghazali
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricia Pawa Pitil .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise and Sports Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Garry Kuan

  2. Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Yu-Kai Chang

  3. Victoria University, Melbourne, VLC, Australia

    Tony Morris

  4. University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Teo Eng Wah

  5. Centre for Fundamental and Continuing Education, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Rabiu Muazu Musa

  6. School of Robotics, Xi’an Jiaotong—Liverpool University, Suzhou, China

    Anwar P. P. Abdul Majeed

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© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Pitil, P.P., Ghazali, S.R. (2023). An Open Trial Targeting Weight-Related Psychological Difficulties Among Young Adults with Overweight or Obesity During COVID-19 Lockdown. In: Kuan, G., Chang, YK., Morris, T., Eng Wah, T., Musa, R.M., P. P. Abdul Majeed, A. (eds) Advancing Sports and Exercise via Innovation. Lecture Notes in Bioengineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8159-3_4

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