Acceptance and commitment therapy for bariatric surgery patients, a pilot RCT

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Obesity Treatment
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Bariatric surgery (BS) is a leading obesity treatment, yet 20-30% of patients experience weight regain within 24 months.
• Emotional eating is a significant predictor of poor outcomes following bariatric surgery.
• Addressing psychological factors is crucial for long-term bariatric surgery success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in bariatric surgery patients.
• To assess ACT's impact on emotional eating, body dissatisfaction, and quality of life.
• To determine if ACT can mitigate weight regain after bariatric surgery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 39 bariatric surgery patients.
• Intervention group received ACT (2 face-to-face sessions + internet support).
• Control group received treatment as usual (TAU) standard follow-up.

Main Results:

• ACT group showed significant improvements in eating disorder behaviors compared to TAU.
• Participants in the ACT group reported reduced body dissatisfaction and enhanced quality of life.
• ACT led to greater acceptance of weight-related thoughts and feelings.

Conclusions:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an effective intervention for bariatric surgery patients.
• Targeting emotional eating with ACT can improve outcomes and reduce weight regain.
• ACT enhances psychological well-being and long-term success post-bariatric surgery.