Feeding BehaviorsNCT02745405
Implications of Wearing a Fat Suit
A study testing Fat Suit in people with Feeding Behaviors, run by A. Janet Tomiyama.
Trial summary
This study examined how wearing a fat suit might lead individuals to experience the negative effects of weight based stigmatization, including psychological, behavioral, and physiological consequences. It also aimed to test using the fat suit as a possible intervention tactic to reduce weight stigma. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Feeding Behaviors
- What is being tested?
- Fat Suit
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 109 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Apr 2014to Dec 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants had to be registered in the UCLA Department of Psychology Subject Pool.
Who cannot join
- No specific exclusion criteria.
About this study
Official title: Implications of Wearing a Fat Suit for Eating, Physiological Stress, and Psychological Well-Being
This study examined how wearing a fat suit might lead individuals to experience the negative effects of weight based stigmatization, including psychological, behavioral, and physiological consequences. It also aimed to test using the fat suit as a possible intervention tactic to reduce weight stigma.
Read the detailed description
The goal of this study was to understand how embodying a stigmatized domain might elicit the same consequences investigators see in victims of weight stigma. Participants were randomly assigned to either manipulate their weight through wearing a fat suit prosthesis or to a control condition where they wore the same clothing that was on the fat suit but in their own size. Outcome variables were cortisol reactivity, psychological well-being, and food and drink consumption. Additionally, this study tested whether wearing the fat suit might serve as an effective weight stigma reduction effort.
- Conditions
- Feeding Behaviors
- Being tested
- Fat Suit, Control Condition
- Keywords
- Weight Stigma, Cortisol Reactivity, Eating Behavior
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior, Weight Prejudice
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Fat SuitOther
Participants wear a fat suit.
Control ConditionOther
Participants wear same clothing as intervention, but in their own size.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Fat Suit Condition | Experimental | Participants are randomly assigned to wear a fat suit and then walk across campus. Receives: Other: Fat Suit |
| Control Condition | Other | Participants are randomly assigned to wear the same clothing that is on the fat suit but in their own size and then walk across campus. Receives: Other: Control Condition |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Eating behavior measured via grams of food consumed
M\&Ms, potato chips, and full-sugar soda consumption
Measured: ~10-minutes post-manipulation
Secondary outcomes (3)
Cortisol reactivity
Measured: ~20 minutes post-manipulation
Antifat Attitudes measured via electronic questionnaire
Measured: ~30 minutes after post-manipulation
Psychological Well-Being measured via electronic questionnaires
Measured: ~15 minutes post-manipulation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Apr 2016 (estimated)
- Study startApr 2014
- Primary completionDec 2014
- Study completionDec 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Feeding BehaviorsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 109 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- A. Janet Tomiyama
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, A. Janet Tomiyama, University of California, Los Angeles
- Investigators
- A. Janet Tomiyama, Ph.D, Principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02745405
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 13-001873
- Status last verified
- Apr 2016
- First submitted
- 11 Apr 2016
- Last updated
- 20 Apr 2016
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Interested individuals should contact the PI, who will consult with the UCLA IRB regarding the request.
Publications
Crandall CS. Prejudice against fat people: ideology and self-interest. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1994 May;66(5):882-94. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.66.5.882.
PubMed 8014833Baker F, Denniston M, Zabora J, Polland A, Dudley WN. A POMS short form for cancer patients: psychometric and structural evaluation. Psychooncology. 2002 Jul-Aug;11(4):273-81. doi: 10.1002/pon.564.
PubMed 12203741Zadro L, Williams KD, Richardson R. How low can you go? Ostracism by a computer is sufficient to lower self-reported levels of belonging, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40(4): 560-567, 2004.
Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Heldreth CM, Tomiyama AJ. Putting on weight stigma: A randomized study of the effects of wearing a fat suit on eating, well-being, and cortisol. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 Sep;24(9):1892-8. doi: 10.1002/oby.21575. Epub 2016 Jul 28.
PubMed 27465666
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Apr 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Implications of Wearing a Fat Suit for Eating, Physiological Stress, and Psychological Well-Being
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02745405
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 13-001873
- Conditions
- Feeding Behaviors
- Keywords
- Weight Stigma, Cortisol Reactivity, Eating Behavior
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 109 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- A. Janet TomiyamaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Apr 2014
- Primary completion
- Dec 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- Dec 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Apr 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study examined how wearing a fat suit might lead individuals to experience the negative effects of weight based stigmatization, including psychological, behavioral, and physiological consequences. It also aimed to test using the fat suit as a possible intervention tactic to reduce weight stigma.
Detailed description
The goal of this study was to understand how embodying a stigmatized domain might elicit the same consequences investigators see in victims of weight stigma. Participants were randomly assigned to either manipulate their weight through wearing a fat suit prosthesis or to a control condition where they wore the same clothing that was on the fat suit but in their own size. Outcome variables were cortisol reactivity, psychological well-being, and food and drink consumption. Additionally, this study tested whether wearing the fat suit might serve as an effective weight stigma reduction effort.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Fat Suit Condition | Experimental | Other: Fat SuitParticipants are randomly assigned to wear a fat suit and then walk across campus. |
| Control Condition | Other | Other: Control ConditionParticipants are randomly assigned to wear the same clothing that is on the fat suit but in their own size and then walk across campus. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participants had to be registered in the UCLA Department of Psychology Subject Pool.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- No specific exclusion criteria.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Fat SuitParticipants wear a fat suit. | Other | Fat Suit Condition |
| Control ConditionParticipants wear same clothing as intervention, but in their own size. | Other | Control Condition |
Primary outcome
Eating behavior measured via grams of food consumed
Time frame: ~10-minutes post-manipulation
M\&Ms, potato chips, and full-sugar soda consumption
3 secondary outcomes
Cortisol reactivity
Time frame: ~20 minutes post-manipulation
Antifat Attitudes measured via electronic questionnaire
Time frame: ~30 minutes after post-manipulation
Psychological Well-Being measured via electronic questionnaires
Time frame: ~15 minutes post-manipulation
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Apr 2016.
- Background: PubMed 8014833Crandall CS. Prejudice against fat people: ideology and self-interest. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1994 May;66(5):882-94. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.66.5.882.
- Background: PubMed 12203741Baker F, Denniston M, Zabora J, Polland A, Dudley WN. A POMS short form for cancer patients: psychometric and structural evaluation. Psychooncology. 2002 Jul-Aug;11(4):273-81. doi: 10.1002/pon.564.
- BackgroundZadro L, Williams KD, Richardson R. How low can you go? Ostracism by a computer is sufficient to lower self-reported levels of belonging, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 40(4): 560-567, 2004.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 27465666Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Heldreth CM, Tomiyama AJ. Putting on weight stigma: A randomized study of the effects of wearing a fat suit on eating, well-being, and cortisol. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2016 Sep;24(9):1892-8. doi: 10.1002/oby.21575. Epub 2016 Jul 28.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Interested individuals should contact the PI, who will consult with the UCLA IRB regarding the request.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
A. Janet Tomiyama, Ph.D principal investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Fat Suit in people with Feeding Behaviors, run by A. Janet Tomiyama.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Apr 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Eating behavior measured via grams of food consumed (time frame: ~10-minutes post-manipulation). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02745405, which also lists 4 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Apr 2016.