App‐based mindfulness meditation reduces perceived stress and improves self‐regulation in working university students: A randomised controlled trial

IntroductionObesity and associated diseases place a severe burden on healthcare systems. Behavioural interventions for weight loss (WL) are successful in the short term but often result in weight regain over time. Self-regulation of eating and activity behaviours may significantly enhance weight loss maintenance (WLM) and may be effectively augmented by contextual behavioural approaches to emotion regulation. The NoHoW trial tests the efficacy of a theoretically informed, evidence-based digital toolkit using a mobile-enabled website, activity trackers and Wi-Fi scales for WLM aiming to target (1) self-regulation and motivation, and (2) emotion regulation in adults who achieved clinically significant (≥5%) WL in the previous 12 months (initial body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2).Methods and analysisThe study is an 18-month, 3-centre, 2×2 factorial single-blind, randomised controlled trial, which recruited 1627 participants achieving ≥5% WL between March 2017 and March 2018. Participants are randomly allocated to one of four arms: (1) self-monitoring only (self-weighing and activity tracker), (2) self-regulation and motivation, (3) emotion regulation or (4) combined self-regulation, motivation and emotion regulation. Participants attend four clinical investigation days at 0, 6, 12 and 18 months and are instructed to use the digital toolkit for 18 weeks during the first 6 months and at their discretion for the remaining 12 months. The primary outcome is change in weight (kg) at 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes are body composition (eg, bioimpedance analysis), health biomarkers (glycated haemoglobin, lipids, blood pressure, hair cortisol), dietary intake, physical activity, sleep, motivational, self-regulatory, emotion regulatory moderators/mediators of WLM, engagement, user experience, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the interventions.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was granted by Institutional Ethics Committees at the Universities of Leeds (17–0082; 27 February 2017), Lisbon (17/2016; 20 February 2017) and Capital Region of Denmark (H-16030495, 8 March 2017). Results will be published in scientific journals.Trial registration numberISRCTN88405328.

Download Full-text

Mobile Mindfulness Meditation: a Randomised Controlled Trial of the Effect of Two Popular Apps on Mental Health

Mindfulness ◽

10.1007/s12671-018-1050-9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 863-876 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Jayde A. M. Flett ◽

Harlene Hayne ◽

Benjamin C. Riordan ◽

Laura M. Thompson ◽

Tamlin S. Conner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Mindfulness Meditation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomised Controlled

Download Full-text

Testing the effectiveness of a weight loss intervention to enhance self-regulation in adults who are obese: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031572 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. e031572 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kerstin Frie ◽

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce ◽

Susan A Jebb ◽

Paul Aveyard

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Intervention Group ◽

The Self ◽

Regulatory Processes ◽

Process Outcomes ◽

Randomised Controlled

IntroductionPrevious trials finding an effect of self-monitoring on weight loss have considered the effect to be mediated by self-regulatory processes. However, a qualitative think-aloud study asking people to record thoughts and feelings during weighing showed that self-regulation occurs only rarely without further instruction. The aim of this trial is to test a novel intervention guiding people through the self-regulatory processes to see whether it facilitates weight loss.Methods and analysesA parallel group, randomised controlled trial will be conducted to test the concept that a self-regulation intervention for weight loss increases weight loss compared with daily self-weighing without further support. One hundred participants with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2will be randomised to either the control or intervention group. The control group will be asked to weigh themselves daily for 8 weeks, the intervention group will be encouraged to follow the self-regulation intervention. They will be prompted to weigh daily, track their weight using an app, plan daily actions for weight loss and reflect on their action plans on a weekly basis. This self-regulation cycle will allow them to experiment with different weight loss strategies and identify effective and sustainable actions. Primary and process outcomes will be measured at baseline and 8 weeks’ follow-up. Linear regression analysis of the primary outcome, weight change, will assess the early effectiveness of the intervention. The process outcomes liking, perceived effectiveness, as well as usage and barriers with regard to the self-regulation intervention, will be assessed through qualitative analysis of follow-up interviews and quantitative analysis of adherence rates and responses to a final questionnaire.Ethics and disseminationThis trial was reviewed and approved by the NHS National Research Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority (reference number: 18/SC/0482). The findings of the trial will be published in peer reviewed journals and presented at conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN14148239, prerecruitment.Protocol versionVersion 1.1, 7 December 2018.

Download Full-text

Efficacy of a guided internet-based intervention (iSOMA) for somatic symptoms and related distress in university students: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024929 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. e024929 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Severin Hennemann ◽

Katja Böhme ◽

Harald Baumeister ◽

Eileen Bendig ◽

Maria Kleinstäuber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

University Students ◽

Somatic Symptom ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

Symptom Burden ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Cohorts ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Internet Based Intervention

IntroductionPersistent and distressing somatic symptoms are common in younger age cohorts such as university students. However, the majority does not receive adequate psychosocial care. Internet-based and mobile-based interventions may represent low threshold and effective extensions to reduce somatic and associated mental symptom severity. The planned study aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of an internet-based intervention in reducing somatic and psychological symptoms in an international population of university students with somatic symptom burden.Methods and analysisThis parallel two-armed randomised controlled trial evaluates an 8-week guided intervention, including web-based consecutive modules based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) principles against a waitlist control group. Guidance will be provided by trained psychologists with weekly written supportive feedback. As part of the ‘Studicare’ project, the present study aims to recruit n=154 university students indicating somatic symptom burden at baseline in German-speaking universities. Self-report assessments will take place at baseline and after intervention completion (8, 16 weeks after randomisation). The primary outcome will be the severity of somatic symptoms and associated mental distress. Secondary outcomes include depression, (health) anxiety, disability, intervention satisfaction and adherence.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been granted. Results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.Trial registration numberDRKS00014375; Pre-results.

Download Full-text