Exercise-Based Obesity Simulation and Weight Bias

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Weight Bias, Health Professions Education, Implicit Bias

In brief

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 facts

Study ID

NCT07430891

Run by

University of Wisconsin, River Falls

People needed

107

Starts

2024-02-01

Expected to finish

2026-02-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-27

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 30. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Undergraduate student enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in a health professions-related program or major
• Age 18 years or older
• Able to safely participate in moderate-intensity treadmill walking
• Cleared to participate based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) preparticipation screening algorithm
• Willing and able to provide informed consent and complete study assessments at baseline, 1-week, and 8-week follow-up

You may not qualify if…

• Contraindications to exercise or treadmill walking based on ACSM screening (e.g., symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease without medical clearance)
• Current or past eating disorder (self-reported)
• Body dysmorphic disorder (self-reported)
• Recent weight-related trauma within the past 12 months (self-reported)
• Any condition or injury that would make treadmill walking unsafe, as determined during screening

Where it is running

• University of Wisconsin-River Falls — River Falls, Wisconsin, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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