Tatjana Anne Korbanka, Sandra Schild, Isabelle Mack, Katrin Elisabeth Giel, Simone Claire Behrens
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Obesity is a major health challenge, requiring the development of more effective interventions. Setting realistic goals and developing detailed plans that anticipate potential challenges can be helpful strategies for bridging the intention-behavior gap. Immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), are considered to further support closing this gap by reducing the distance to one's future self.
Methods: This study investigates a novel VR-supported reflection exercise as an additional treatment module within a conservative obesity treatment regime. It examines its feasibility, acceptance and short- and medium-term effects on participants' therapy motivation, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and eating behavior. 23 participants (BMI: M = 43.44 kg/m2, SD = 4.42) were presented with a real-time animated body avatar that had the average body shape for their individual height, initial weight, and realistic target weight (- 10%), and standard appearance matched in terms of hair and skin color. The avatar could be viewed from first-person and mirror perspectives. The exercise included reflective questions about their experience, well-being, daily life, and eating and movement behavior.
Results: Participation and dropout rates of the VR-supported reflection exercise, user experience ratings, assessments on general discomfort and qualitative feedback demonstrated good feasibility and acceptance of the VR exercise. There were no measurable effects of a single session on clinical outcomes, including motivation to change, eating disorder psychopathology, self-esteem and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions: The VR-based reflection exercise was feasible and well-accepted. The sample was highly burdened with multimorbidity, severe obesity (grade III), and psychological stress. A clinical trial with sufficient dosage would be required to infer about clinical effects.
期刊介绍：
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity is a scientific journal whose main purpose is to create an international forum devoted to the several sectors of eating disorders and obesity and the significant relations between them. The journal publishes basic research, clinical and theoretical articles on eating disorders and weight-related problems: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, subthreshold eating disorders, obesity, atypical patterns of eating behaviour and body weight regulation in clinical and non-clinical populations.
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