Finding kindness: A randomized controlled trial of an online self-compassion intervention for weight management (SC4WM)

Introduction: Weight loss is hard to achieve and even harder to maintain. Engaging in effortful behavioural change to manage body weight can sometimes result in feelings of guilt and shame. Self-compassion, the tendency to find kindness for oneself in times of struggle, may facilitate coping with the unique challenges of weight management. This study assessed whether a remotely delivered self-compassion intervention improved weight management outcomes when delivered as a supplement to an existing digital behavioural weight management programme, Weight Watchers (WW).

Method: Using a mixed-method study design, 249 adults seeking to manage weight were randomized to either the WW programme or WW supplemented with the self-compassion for weight management intervention (SC4WM). Participants completed measures of self-compassion, eating behaviour, physical activity, body weight and emotional well-being along with potential moderators, including weight self-stigma, eating restraint, psychological coping and perceived stress at baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks) and follow-up (12 weeks).

Results: There was no evidence that the SC4WM intervention had a significantly different effect than WW alone. Other than body weight, all outcomes improved over time in both groups. Self-compassion was slightly higher overall in the SC4WM group (p = .05), with this group reporting higher self-kindness at 4 weeks (p = .014) and lower self-judgement at 12 weeks (p = .023) compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Although the SC4WM intervention group did show a small increase in self-kindness and reduction in self-judgement, weight management outcomes were not improved over and above the existing WW programme. Recommendations for adapting the SC4WM intervention to improve efficacy to augment weight management outcomes are provided.