A Brief Appetite Awareness Intervention for Eating and Weight Regulation Among College Freshmen

A Brief Appetite Awareness Intervention for Eating and Weight Regulation Among College Freshmen: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The proposed study is a randomized clinical trial investigating the effects of a weight gain and eating dysregulation prevention intervention among college freshmen women. It will compare Appetite Awareness Training (AAT) to a standard nutritional education group and a no treatment control group. Appetite Awareness Training approach to increasing eating regulation through training individuals to eat in response to their appetite cues rather than external or emotional cues.

All female freshmen students residing in the university dorms were recruited to participate in this study. After completing the baseline assessment, eligible participants were randomly assigned to one of the three arms. Those in the AAT condition received guided administration of AAT over the course of three weekly group sessions, with an additional booster session three weeks after completion (week 6). The standard treatment comparison group received four similarly timed group sessions of psychoeducational/nutrition information facilitated by a registered dietician. A manualized approach to administration of the intervention was created based on the AAT treatment and was strictly followed in order to standardize the implementation of the prevention groups. The no-treatment control group only participated in the assessments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Incoming University of Minnesota Duluth freshmen women residing in on campus dormitories

Exclusion Criteria:

• Males, non-dormitory residing, non-freshmen.