ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2370-900X
Current Organisation
The University of Auckland
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-08-2023
DOI: 10.1111/BJHP.12686
Abstract: Weight loss is hard to achieve and even harder to maintain. Engaging in effortful behavioural change to manage body weight can sometimes result in feelings of guilt and shame. Self‐compassion, the tendency to find kindness for oneself in times of struggle, may facilitate coping with the unique challenges of weight management. This study assessed whether a remotely delivered self‐compassion intervention improved weight management outcomes when delivered as a supplement to an existing digital behavioural weight management programme, Weight Watchers (WW). Using a mixed‐method study design, 249 adults seeking to manage weight were randomized to either the WW programme or WW supplemented with the self‐compassion for weight management intervention (SC4WM). Participants completed measures of self‐compassion, eating behaviour, physical activity, body weight and emotional well‐being along with potential moderators, including weight self‐stigma, eating restraint, psychological coping and perceived stress at baseline, post‐intervention (4 weeks) and follow‐up (12 weeks). There was no evidence that the SC4WM intervention had a significantly different effect than WW alone. Other than body weight, all outcomes improved over time in both groups. Self‐compassion was slightly higher overall in the SC4WM group ( p = .05), with this group reporting higher self‐kindness at 4 weeks ( p = .014) and lower self‐judgement at 12 weeks ( p = .023) compared to the control group. Although the SC4WM intervention group did show a small increase in self‐kindness and reduction in self‐judgement, weight management outcomes were not improved over and above the existing WW programme. Recommendations for adapting the SC4WM intervention to improve efficacy to augment weight management outcomes are provided.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-10-2022
DOI: 10.1111/COB.12562
Abstract: Conventional weight management approaches emphasize engaging in health behaviours, such as healthy eating and physical activity, to control body weight and promote favourable health outcomes (e.g., lower blood pressure). However, weight management is a multi‐faceted, complex process influenced by numerous factors that limit the impact of behaviour change on weight. Self‐compassion, treating oneself kindly in times of increased distress or difficulty, may offer a way for in iduals to cope with the challenges of managing weight. The objectives of this perspective paper are threefold: (1) to conceptualize weight management, (2) to describe the problem that arises when focusing solely on weight loss, and (3) to explore the theoretical rationale for integrating self‐compassion into weight management interventions. To support in idual health and well‐being, there is a need to reframe measures of success and provide innovative ways to cope with the challenges of managing body weight. Continued research is needed to investigate whether self‐compassion can support health outcomes for those with weight management goals. This manuscript provides a proposed research agenda and implications for future practice.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2022
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-056174
Abstract: In idual weight management, defined as engaging in behaviours to maintain or lose weight, can improve health and well-being. However, numerous factors influence weight management outcomes, such as genetics, biology, stress, the social and physical environment. Consequently, weight management can be hard. Self-compassion, described as treating oneself kindly in times of failure or distress, has shown promise in improving weight management outcomes. The objectives of this study are twofold: (1) to examine the efficacy of an online self-compassion for weight management (SC4WM) intervention coupled with an online commercial weight management programme (WW Weight Watchers reimagined) with increasing self-compassion and improving weight management outcomes (eating behaviour, physical activity and body weight) in comparison with the WW programme only and (2) to explore whether improvements in weight management outcomes are moderated by eating restraint, weight self-stigma, perceived stress and psychological coping. To achieve these objectives, 240 participants seeking to manage their weight were randomised to either an online behavioural commercial weight management programme (WW) or the online WW +SC4 WM intervention. Validated measures of self-compassion, stress, weight self-stigma, eating restraint, psychological coping and weight management outcomes were administered online at baseline, 4 weeks and at a 12-week follow-up. Ethics has been granted by the University of Auckland Health Research Ethics committee. Results will be communicated in peer-review journals, conferences and a doctoral thesis. If effective in increasing self-compassion and improving weight management outcomes, the intervention could be made more widely available to supplement behavioural weight management programmes. ACTRN12621000580875 Pre-results.
No related grants have been discovered for Jennifer Brenton-Peters.