Effectiveness of a family-focused group intervention centered on self-regulatory capacity in women with overweight or obesity to promote healthier habits
Treatment of overweight and obesity
Experimental Group: Family Attachment Therapy developed by Claudia Messing, focused on self-regulation. 8 group sessions, 2 hours each, every two weeks, for 4 months with each group (there will be two experimental groups), in groups of 8 women. The therapy will be led by a clinical psychologist specializing in family attachment therapy and eating disorders. The therapeutic content will include exploring bonds with family of origin and current family, identifying relational patterns that influence family dynamics and eating habits, addressing psycho-affective transference associated with food, role overload, mimicry of parental figures, repetition of family experiences, and healthy boundaries. The aim is to foster emotional self-regulation through verbalization of distress linked to family history; alternatives to immediate gratification mediated by food; and work on body image/schema, self-care, and self-concept/self-esteem. Techniques will include mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral strategies. Control Group: This group will not receive the project intervention. They will continue with the regular activities of the Choose Healthy Living Program, with access to timely referrals if necessary and monitoring within the program. Group Assignment and Randomization: Assignment to the experimental and control groups will be done via random numbers generated in Excel. Participants are organized into groups of 8 according to clinical-therapeutic objectives; the groups remain fixed throughout the process (without modifications). Regarding the evaluation schedule, it should be noted that measurements for both groups will be taken at three points: before (baseline), at the end of the interventions, and at a 6-month post-treatment follow-up. There will be two experimental groups and two control groups of 8 people each, in two phases of 4 months each. This is a group psychotherapeutic intervention; no medications or routes of administration are reported.
1. Women 2. Aged 18–60 years 3. With a clinical diagnosis of overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) 4. Participants in the Elige Vida Sana Program in El Bosque 5. Willing to attend group sessions every 15 days for 4 months 6. Having signed the informed consent form to participate in the study and to allow the use of their data for research purposes
1. Presence of severe psychiatric disorders (such as schizophrenia, uncontrolled bipolar disorder, active suicidal ideation, or substance use disorders) that limit active participation in a group process as indicated in the clinical record or through prior screening 2. Pregnant women or those exclusively breastfeeding, since weight change would not be comparable and they may require different nutritional interventions 3. Severe mobility problems or decompensated chronic illnesses that prevent sustained, in-person participation in group sessions 4. Significant difficulties understanding spoken or written Spanish, or unaccommodated sensory disabilities that prevent full participation in group activities