Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Previous research has shown that it is feasible to integrate motivational interviewing techniques with behavioural and psychological interventions for the treatment of obesity. Moreover, these combined interventions have the potential to improve health-related outcomes of people living...

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Main Authors: Dimitra Anastasiadou, Jose Antonio Ramos-Quiroga, Mel Slater, Bernhard Spanlang, Desiderio Cano Porras, Marta Comas, Andreea Ciudin, Gemma Parramon Puig, Julia Vázquez-De Sebastián, Pilar Lusilla-Palacios
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022-06-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e060822.full
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author Dimitra Anastasiadou
Jose Antonio Ramos-Quiroga
Mel Slater
Bernhard Spanlang
Desiderio Cano Porras
Marta Comas
Andreea Ciudin
Gemma Parramon Puig
Julia Vázquez-De Sebastián
Pilar Lusilla-Palacios
author_facet Dimitra Anastasiadou
Jose Antonio Ramos-Quiroga
Mel Slater
Bernhard Spanlang
Desiderio Cano Porras
Marta Comas
Andreea Ciudin
Gemma Parramon Puig
Julia Vázquez-De Sebastián
Pilar Lusilla-Palacios
author_sort Dimitra Anastasiadou
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Previous research has shown that it is feasible to integrate motivational interviewing techniques with behavioural and psychological interventions for the treatment of obesity. Moreover, these combined interventions have the potential to improve health-related outcomes of people living with obesity (PLWO) and to afford maintenance of behavioural changes over time. In addition, the use of virtual reality (VR) embodiment techniques in the treatment of eating disorders and obesity has promising preliminary effectiveness. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy of a VR intervention that uses embodiment and body-swapping techniques and has been specifically developed to cover the needs of PLWO.Methods and analysis A randomised control trial will be carried out with an estimated sample of 96 participants with body mass index (BMI)>30. The whole duration of the trial will be 12 months. Participants will be recruited from the external consultations of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and be randomly assigned to three groups. The experimental group 1 will engage in a virtual self-conversation using the ConVRself platform, the experimental group 2 will participate in a ‘pre-established discourse’ provided by the virtual counsellor, who will give psychoeducation advice, and the control group will continue with treatment as usual. Readiness to change, BMI, eating habits and physical activity, psychological well-being, body image satisfaction, quality of life in relation to body image, and weight bias internalisation will be assessed at baseline, post intervention, 1-week and 4-week follow-up. Finally, variables related to adherence and satisfaction with the VR tool will be evaluated for the experimental groups.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Research Projects Committee of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, reports to the funding body, conferences and other events for the scientific and clinical community, and the general public.Trial registration number NCT05094557.
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spelling doaj.art-93c74579461d4e77b10be91beaf2454e2025-01-24T18:00:11ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-06-0112610.1136/bmjopen-2022-060822Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trialDimitra Anastasiadou0Jose Antonio Ramos-Quiroga1Mel Slater2Bernhard Spanlang3Desiderio Cano Porras4Marta Comas5Andreea Ciudin6Gemma Parramon Puig7Julia Vázquez-De Sebastián8Pilar Lusilla-Palacios9Psico-oncologia, Recerca en serveis sanitaris en càncer, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry, Mental Health and Addiction Research Group, VHIR, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainInstitute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainVirtual Bodyworks SL, Barcelona, SpainBrain and Emotion Laboratory, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsEndocrinology and Nutrition Department - Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit - Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Vall d`Hebron University Hospital - Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Madrid, Spain), Barcelona, SpainEndocrinology and Nutrition Department - Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit - Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Vall d`Hebron University Hospital - Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona - Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Madrid, Spain), Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry Department, Vall d`Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry Department, Vall d`Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, SpainPsychiatry Department, Vall d`Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, SpainIntroduction Previous research has shown that it is feasible to integrate motivational interviewing techniques with behavioural and psychological interventions for the treatment of obesity. Moreover, these combined interventions have the potential to improve health-related outcomes of people living with obesity (PLWO) and to afford maintenance of behavioural changes over time. In addition, the use of virtual reality (VR) embodiment techniques in the treatment of eating disorders and obesity has promising preliminary effectiveness. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy of a VR intervention that uses embodiment and body-swapping techniques and has been specifically developed to cover the needs of PLWO.Methods and analysis A randomised control trial will be carried out with an estimated sample of 96 participants with body mass index (BMI)>30. The whole duration of the trial will be 12 months. Participants will be recruited from the external consultations of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and be randomly assigned to three groups. The experimental group 1 will engage in a virtual self-conversation using the ConVRself platform, the experimental group 2 will participate in a ‘pre-established discourse’ provided by the virtual counsellor, who will give psychoeducation advice, and the control group will continue with treatment as usual. Readiness to change, BMI, eating habits and physical activity, psychological well-being, body image satisfaction, quality of life in relation to body image, and weight bias internalisation will be assessed at baseline, post intervention, 1-week and 4-week follow-up. Finally, variables related to adherence and satisfaction with the VR tool will be evaluated for the experimental groups.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Research Projects Committee of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, reports to the funding body, conferences and other events for the scientific and clinical community, and the general public.Trial registration number NCT05094557.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e060822.full
spellingShingle Dimitra Anastasiadou
Jose Antonio Ramos-Quiroga
Mel Slater
Bernhard Spanlang
Desiderio Cano Porras
Marta Comas
Andreea Ciudin
Gemma Parramon Puig
Julia Vázquez-De Sebastián
Pilar Lusilla-Palacios
Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
BMJ Open
title Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
title_full Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
title_fullStr Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
title_short Clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
title_sort clinical efficacy of a virtual reality tool for the treatment of obesity study protocol of a randomised controlled trial
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e060822.full
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