Exercise-Based Obesity Simulation and Weight Bias

Part of paid clinical trials in River Falls, Wisconsin.

Sponsor
University of Wisconsin, River Falls
Study ID
NCT07430891
Status
Completed

Conditions

  • Health Professions Education
  • Implicit Bias
  • Weight Bias

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 30 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants completed the same 30-minute treadmill protocol as the exercise-only group while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit. The suit added approximately 20% of body mass to simulate increased body weight and movement constraints during exercise.
  • Exercise-only — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants completed a 30-minute treadmill walking session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 mph, 0% grade), 20-minute walk (2.5 mph, 6% grade), and 5-minute cool-down. Heart rate and perceived exertion were monitored to ensure moderate-intensity exercise.
  • Control — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants completed a time-matched session consisting of a 10-minute professional communication micro-module (etiquette, active listening, teamwork; no obesity-related content) followed by approximately 20 minutes of low-intensity stretching. The session was designed to control for instructor attention and time without exposure to exercise or obesity simulation.

Study Details

This study examines whether an exercise-based simulation can reduce weight bias and improve professional skills among health professions students. Weight stigma in healthcare settings can negatively affect patient communication, clinical decision-making, and patient engagement in health-promoting behaviors. In this randomized controlled trial, undergraduate health professions students were assigned to one of three groups: (1) a control group completing a communication module and light stretching, (2) an exercise-only group completing treadmill walking, or (3) an exercise group completing treadmill walking while wearing an obesity simulation suit designed to represent additional body weight. The simulation aimed to provide students with an experiential understanding of movement challenges associated with higher body weight. Participants completed assessments at baseline, one week, and eight weeks after the intervention. Outcomes included measures of implicit and explicit weight bias, empathy, clinical decision-making using patient scenarios, professional behavioral intentions, and reflective learning. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a brief experiential intervention can reduce weight bias and improve competencies related to patient-centered and weight-inclusive care in health professions education.

Key Dates

Start date
Feb 1, 2024
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Feb 1, 2026
Completion
Feb 1, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
107 participants (actual)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Control
    Participants completed a time-matched session consisting of a 10-minute professional communication micro-module (etiquette, active listening, teamwork; no obesity-related content) followed by approximately 20 minutes of low-intensity stretching. The session was designed to control for instructor attention and time without exposure to exercise or obesity simulation.
  • Active Comparator: Exercise-only
    Participants completed a 30-minute treadmill walking session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 mph, 0% grade), 20-minute walk (2.5 mph, 6% grade), and 5-minute cool-down. Heart rate and perceived exertion were monitored to ensure moderate-intensity exercise.
  • Experimental: Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit
    Participants completed the same 30-minute treadmill protocol as the exercise-only group while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit. The suit added approximately 20% of body mass to simulate increased body weight and movement constraints during exercise.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in Implicit Weight Bias [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1-week, and 8 weeks post-intervention ]

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver FallsWisconsin54022-

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