Recruiting

Weight Education

Sponsor:

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Code:

NCT07349316

Conditions

Dietary Restraint

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Weight Science Education

Nutrition Education

Sleep Education

Study Details

Brief summary:

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. This study will compare three types of education in undergraduate dieters. In the first, the investigators will teach how the body naturally controls weight. In the second, the investigators will teach about healthy eating. In the third, the investigators will teach about how the body naturally controls weight and healthy eating. The study is testing whether teaching about how the body naturally controls weight and healthy eating changes people's beliefs about weight. The study also tests whether changing people's beliefs about weight will change their body satisfaction, their feelings about themselves, and their intention to diet.

Conditions

Dietary Restraint

Study ID

NCT07349316

Start date

Jan 1, 2026

Status verified date

Apr, 2026

Completion date

Aug 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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

Exclusion Criteria:

\- Self-identified men

Study Design

Enrollment

150 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: 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.

active comparator: 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.

experimental: 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.

Interventions

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.

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.

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.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in beliefs on the ability to control one's weight (weight control beliefs). [ Time Frame: From baseline measure to the end of the intervention at approximately one hour. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Keisha Gobin, Ph.D., C.Psych

905-522-1155kgobin@stjoes.ca

Mindy Tat, BSc

tatm@mcmaster.ca

Locations

McMaster University

Recruiting

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 3K7

Contacts

Keisha Gobin, Ph.D., C.Psych

905-522-1155kgobin@stjoes.ca

Mindy Tat, BSc

tatm@mcmaster.ca

Principal Investigator:

Keisha Gobin, Ph.D., C.Psych

More Information

Sponsor

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Last update posted

Apr 22, 2026

Last verified

Apr, 2026

Keywords

  • Weight Control Beliefs
  • Dieters
  • Nutrition Counselling
  • Weight Science
  • Psychotherapeutic Interventions
  • Brief Intervention
  • Dietary Restraint

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton on 2026-04-22.