The Effects of Weight and Nutrition Education on Weight Control Beliefs, Body Image, Self-Esteem and Eating Patterns in Undergraduate Dieters

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-01

Study Completion Date

2026-08-31

Brief Summary

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People who diet typically believe they can control their weight. People who believe they should control their weight are more likely to have poor body image, low self-esteem and disordered eating. People who believe they should aim for a healthy lifestyle and accept their natural weight have better body image, better self-esteem and less disordered eating. Our study will compare three types of education in undergraduate dieters. In the first, we will teach how the body naturally controls weight. In the second, we will teach about healthy eating. In the third, we will teach about how the body naturally controls weight and healthy eating. We want to see if teaching about how the body naturally controls weight and healthy eating changes people's beliefs about weight. We also want to see if changing people's beliefs about weight will change their body satisfaction, their feelings about themselves, and their intention to diet.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Undergraduate Students Women Dieters

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is an experimental study in which participants will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) weight science + control (sleep education); 2) control (sleep education) + healthy eating education; or 3) weight science + healthy eating education. The control component (sleep education) is the same in both Group 1 and Group 2 and is intended to serve as a pure placebo, not expected to influence the study's primary outcomes.

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Weight Science Education and Sleep Education (Control)

Participants in the Weight Science Education and Sleep Education (Control) arm will be receiving both those educational interventions after answering questionnaires. This arm assesses the hypothesis that weight science education alone will decrease belief in personal control over weight and will have little to no effect on belief in choosing a healthy lifestyle/weight acceptance.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Weight Science Education

Intervention Type OTHER

The weight science educational video discusses the research on the genetic contribution to body weight; the role of genetics in how individuals' body weight responds to over-eating; the research comparing the efficacy of different dieting approaches; the research on the long-term efficacy of behavioural approaches to weight loss; weight loss in obesity; research on the weight-loss registry looking at successful weight losers; and research on weight control beliefs. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Sleep Education

Intervention Type OTHER

The sleep hygiene educational video, which is an active control, reviews the cognitive, emotional, physical health and weight implications of good quality sleep; provides a review of good sleep hygiene; and provides an overview of how to manage insomnia. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Nutrition Education and Sleep Education (Control)

Participants in the Nutrition Education and Sleep Education (Control) arm will be receiving both those educational interventions after answering questionnaires. This arm assesses the hypothesis that nutrition education alone will increase belief in choosing a healthy lifestyle or weight acceptance, but will have little to no effect on the belief in personal control over weight.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Nutrition Education

Intervention Type OTHER

The healthy nutrition educational video discusses the development of food guides around the world; a definition and description of benefits of the "basics" of healthy eating (e.g., regular eating, balanced eating and pleasurable eating); a review of the macronutrients and their importance to health; a review of the recommendations concerning the specific food groups in the Canada's food guide; and how to put this all together to create a healthy eating plan. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Sleep Education

Intervention Type OTHER

The sleep hygiene educational video, which is an active control, reviews the cognitive, emotional, physical health and weight implications of good quality sleep; provides a review of good sleep hygiene; and provides an overview of how to manage insomnia. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Weight Science Education and Nutrition Education

Participants in the Weight Science Education and Healthy Eating Education arm will be receiving both those educational interventions after answering questionnaires. This arm assesses the main hypothesis that weight science and nutrition teaching combined will both decrease the belief of personal control over weight and an increase the belief in choosing a healthy lifestyle/weight acceptance.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Weight Science Education

Intervention Type OTHER

The weight science educational video discusses the research on the genetic contribution to body weight; the role of genetics in how individuals' body weight responds to over-eating; the research comparing the efficacy of different dieting approaches; the research on the long-term efficacy of behavioural approaches to weight loss; weight loss in obesity; research on the weight-loss registry looking at successful weight losers; and research on weight control beliefs. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Nutrition Education

Intervention Type OTHER

The healthy nutrition educational video discusses the development of food guides around the world; a definition and description of benefits of the "basics" of healthy eating (e.g., regular eating, balanced eating and pleasurable eating); a review of the macronutrients and their importance to health; a review of the recommendations concerning the specific food groups in the Canada's food guide; and how to put this all together to create a healthy eating plan. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Interventions

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Weight Science Education

The weight science educational video discusses the research on the genetic contribution to body weight; the role of genetics in how individuals' body weight responds to over-eating; the research comparing the efficacy of different dieting approaches; the research on the long-term efficacy of behavioural approaches to weight loss; weight loss in obesity; research on the weight-loss registry looking at successful weight losers; and research on weight control beliefs. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Intervention Type OTHER

Nutrition Education

The healthy nutrition educational video discusses the development of food guides around the world; a definition and description of benefits of the "basics" of healthy eating (e.g., regular eating, balanced eating and pleasurable eating); a review of the macronutrients and their importance to health; a review of the recommendations concerning the specific food groups in the Canada's food guide; and how to put this all together to create a healthy eating plan. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Intervention Type OTHER

Sleep Education

The sleep hygiene educational video, which is an active control, reviews the cognitive, emotional, physical health and weight implications of good quality sleep; provides a review of good sleep hygiene; and provides an overview of how to manage insomnia. The video is narrated by Dr. Michele Laliberte, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the information is consistent with current research and recommendations. There is no deception involved and it is made clear to participants that the information they are being provided is based on current research and the purpose is to understand the impact of this information on their attitudes and beliefs.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Weight Education Weight Science Healthy Eating Education Healthy Eating Healthy Nutrition Education Healthy Sleep Healthy Sleep Education Sleep Hygiene

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Undergraduate students at McMaster University
* Individuals who are restricting their eating to try and lose weight.
* Self-identified women
* Ages 18 or over
* Normal (or corrected to normal) hearing
* Normal (or corrected to normal) vision