Acceptance-based StrategiesImproving the Experience of Exercise Among Individuals With Internalized Weight Bias Using Acceptance-based Strategies

This 90-minute one-on-one intervention will provide psychoeducation and experiential training on the use of acceptance-based strategies for physical activity.

This 90-minute one-on-one intervention will provide psychoeducation on physical activity as one of several interconnected health behaviors.

During the 90-minute, one-on-one interventionist led session, participants will learn three inter-related acceptance-based techniques tailored for coping with physical discomfort and negative affect during physical activity. (1) cognitive defusion (i.e., disentangling physical sensations and thoughts from behavior), (2) acceptance (i.e., increasing willingness to experience unpleasant physical sensations/negative affect without trying to change or control them), and (3) valued action (i.e., evaluating the role of physical activity as a valued behavior). Participants will be taught these techniques via didactic instruction, metaphors, and experiential activities.

All participants will receive a two-week physical activity prescription based on national guidelines recommending 150 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity per week.

The multi health behavior condition will include didactic material focused broadly on healthy lifestyle recommendations including physical activity. It will also emphasize that physical activity is one of several interconnected health behaviors including balanced diet, sleep, stress management. All participants will receive a two-week physical activity prescription based on national guidelines recommending 150 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity per week.