Psychological inflexibility in overweight and obese people from the perspective of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Purpose To identify the psychological inflexibility (PI) processes (experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, poor contact with the present moment, unclear personal values and lack of commitment to action) associated with body mass index (BMI), depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and binge eating in overweight and obese people by drawing on the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) framework. Methods A cross-sectional study of 243 people with a BMI of at least 25 and aged from 18 to 60 years old. The following instruments were used: Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Weight (AAQ-W), Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ-7), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-Body Image (CFQ-BI), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Binge Eating Scale (BES) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and t tests. Results There were no differences between BMI categories with respect to PI variables, but PI was positively related to the severity of binge eating and to symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusion The development of interventions focused on psychological inflexibility can be useful for the treatment of symptoms associated with overweight and obesity.