DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

Applying ACT theory to weight control
The ACT theory of psychopathology suggests that attempts to change or eliminate
unwanted private experiences by avoiding them i.e. experiential avoidance results in a
narrow set of behavioural responses and makes it less likely that the person will achieve
their valued aims. In the case of those with a tendency to overeat or binge, the presence
of uncomfortable or undesirable emotions consistently results in eating for comfort. The
short term effects of reducing negative affect in this way have little or no impact on an
individual’s ability to face discomfort and pursue whatever they wish from their life.
Instead, the bingeing behaviour may result in the opposite of their intended goal which
may, for example, be to lose weight. The individual becomes less able to deal with
uncomfortable emotions over time and eating is required more and more as a coping
response (Lillis, 2006).
Furthermore, individuals who have difficulty maintaining weight loss may be excessively
regulated by verbal rules and less so by direct experience so that thinking ‘I had a cake
therefore I blew it, so what’s the point’ may be experienced as a literal truth (Lillis,
2006). Taking something as a literal truth can involve not being able to stand back and
see that there is more than one perspective. Private events/internal experiences by being
taken as literal truths instead of experiences that can be noticed and not believed nor
disbelieved result in the individual engaging in behaviours that are inconsistent with their
goal, such as, weight maintenance. This is another example of how cognitive fusion can
move one further from their goals (e.g. bingeing).
ACT and Body Image
Negative body image is thought to be common, for example Williams and Currie (2000)
found 45% of the 11-year-old girls and 54% of 13 year-old girls in a large UK sample
were dissatisfied with their body size.
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