Korbanka Tatjana Anne, Schild Sandra, Mack Isabelle, Giel Katrin Elisabeth, Behrens Simone Claire
Medical Clinic, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Centre of Excellence for Eating Disorders (KOMET), Tübingen, Germany.
Eat Weight Disord. 2025 Sep 17;30(1):74. doi: 10.1007/s40519-025-01780-x.
Obesity is a major health challenge, requiring the development of more effective interventions. Setting realistic goals and developing detailed plans that anticipate potential challenges can be helpful strategies for bridging the intention-behavior gap. Immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), are considered to further support closing this gap by reducing the distance to one's future self.
This study investigates a novel VR-supported reflection exercise as an additional treatment module within a conservative obesity treatment regime. It examines its feasibility, acceptance and short- and medium-term effects on participants' therapy motivation, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and eating behavior. 23 participants (BMI: M = 43.44 kg/m, SD = 4.42) were presented with a real-time animated body avatar that had the average body shape for their individual height, initial weight, and realistic target weight (- 10%), and standard appearance matched in terms of hair and skin color. The avatar could be viewed from first-person and mirror perspectives. The exercise included reflective questions about their experience, well-being, daily life, and eating and movement behavior.
Participation and dropout rates of the VR-supported reflection exercise, user experience ratings, assessments on general discomfort and qualitative feedback demonstrated good feasibility and acceptance of the VR exercise. There were no measurable effects of a single session on clinical outcomes, including motivation to change, eating disorder psychopathology, self-esteem and depressive symptoms.
The VR-based reflection exercise was feasible and well-accepted. The sample was highly burdened with multimorbidity, severe obesity (grade III), and psychological stress. A clinical trial with sufficient dosage would be required to infer about clinical effects.
Level 4.
肥胖是一项重大的健康挑战，需要开发更有效的干预措施。设定现实的目标并制定详细的计划以应对潜在挑战，可能是弥合意图与行为差距的有益策略。虚拟现实（VR）等沉浸式技术被认为可通过缩短与未来自我的距离来进一步支持缩小这一差距。
本研究调查了一种新型的VR支持的反思练习，将其作为保守性肥胖治疗方案中的一个额外治疗模块。研究考察了其可行性、可接受性以及对参与者治疗动机、身体不满、自尊、抑郁症状和饮食行为的短期和中期影响。向23名参与者（BMI：M = 43.44kg/m，SD = 4.42）展示了一个实时动画身体替身，其具有与他们的个人身高、初始体重和现实目标体重（-10%）相匹配的平均体型，以及在头发和肤色方面匹配的标准外貌。可以从第一人称和镜像视角查看该替身。该练习包括关于他们的经历、幸福感、日常生活以及饮食和运动行为的反思性问题。
VR支持的反思练习的参与率和退出率、用户体验评分、对一般不适的评估以及定性反馈表明该VR练习具有良好的可行性和可接受性。单次练习对临床结果没有可测量的影响，包括改变动机、饮食失调心理病理学、自尊和抑郁症状。
基于VR的反思练习是可行的且被广泛接受。该样本存在多种合并症、严重肥胖（III级）和心理压力，负担很重。需要进行足够剂量的临床试验来推断临床效果。
4级。
