A Virtual Reality Exposure Intervention on Social Physical Anxiety in Women With Obesity

Development and Impact of a Virtual Reality Exposure Intervention on Social Physical Anxiety During Physical Activity in Women With Obesity

Several studies show that a high level of social physical anxiety (SPA) can lead to avoidance and poor adherence to physical activity (PA) programs. Although this link is known and a high level of SPA is frequently found in women with obesity, no psychological intervention specific to the treatment of SPA has been developed to date. Exposure therapy is the treatment of choice for general social anxiety. However, this format of therapy can cause great discomfort for the patient and prevents complete control of the environment by the clinician. Virtual reality (VR), commonly employed in the treatment of anxiety disorders, offers a solution to these problems by allowing exposure to human stimuli in an adaptable environment and under the control of the clinician, with a reduction in stress patient discomfort. The objectives of the project are to: i) assess the feasibility and acceptability of the protocol and the VR exposure intervention in women with obesity, and ii) obtain an estimate of the effect of VR exposure intervention associated with an exercise training on SPA, compliance, adherence and persistence to the exercise training, as well as persistence in PA practice in the middle term to calculate the sample size for a future larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) in women with obesity. A RCT of feasibility will be carried out. Forty-five women with obesity and a high level of SPA will be randomized into one of the following three groups: 1) Exercice and VR exposure (Ex + expo), 2) Exercise and psychological intervention control (Ex + control) or 3) waiting list (WL). The interventions will have a physical exercise training (identical for all) and a psychology intervention (different according to the condition: VR exposure or control). The feasibility and acceptability of the protocol and the VR exposure intervention will be assessed at the end of the study. SPA, PA practice, anthropometry, internalization of weight bias, body appreciation, perceived pleasure, motivational regulation, self-efficacy, affects as well as perception effort will be evaluated with questionnaires and scales validated before and after the intervention and 6 months after the end of the intervention. Sociodemographic data, depressive symptoms, problematic eating behaviors and propensity to immersion will be assessed during the initial visit only. Adherence, adherence and persistence to the PA program will be calculated at the end of the intervention. Persistence in PA practice will be calculated using data collected immediately after the end of the intervention and 6 months after the intervention.

A Virtual Reality Exposure Intervention on Social Physical Anxiety in Women With Obesity

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