Weight BiasNCT07430891
Exercise-Based Obesity Simulation and Weight Bias
A study testing Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit and Exercise-only in people with Weight Bias and Health Professions Education, run by University of Wisconsin, River Falls at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Weight Bias, Health Professions Education, Implicit Bias
- What is being tested?
- Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit and Exercise-only
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 107 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2024to 1 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, Wisconsin, 54022
About this study
Official title: Effects of Exercise-Based Obesity Simulation on Weight Bias and Clinical Decision-Making in Health Professions Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
Read more
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.
Read the detailed description
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of an exercise-based obesity simulation on weight bias and professional competencies among undergraduate health professions students.
Participants (N = 107) were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three conditions: (1) control (professional communication module and low-intensity stretching), (2) moderate-intensity treadmill exercise without simulation, or (3) treadmill exercise while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit representing approximately 20% additional body mass. The intervention consisted of a single 30-minute session.
Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 8-week follow-up. The primary outcome was change in implicit weight bias measured using the Weight Implicit Association Test. Secondary outcomes included explicit weight bias (Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire; Fat Phobia Scale), empathy (Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions Student version), clinical decision-making using structured patient vignettes, behavioral intentions toward future patients, and structured reflective learning.
Physiological and perceptual responses during the intervention (heart rate, perceived exertion, discomfort, and affective valence) were also recorded to examine associations between experiential intensity and learning outcomes.
The study aims to evaluate whether a brief experiential educational intervention can reduce weight bias and improve empathy and clinical reasoning relevant to weight-inclusive care.
- Conditions
- Weight Bias, Health Professions Education, Implicit Bias
- Being tested
- Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit, Exercise-only, Control
- Keywords
- obesity simulation, weight stigma, experiential learning, simulation-based education, medical education
- Medical subject headings
- Weight Prejudice, Bias, Implicit
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exercise with Obesity Simulation SuitBehavioural
Participants completed the same 30-minute treadmill protocol as the exercise-only group while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit. The suit added approximately 20% of body mass to simulate increased body weight and movement constraints during exercise.
Exercise-onlyBehavioural
Participants completed a 30-minute treadmill walking session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 mph, 0% grade), 20-minute walk (2.5 mph, 6% grade), and 5-minute cool-down. Heart rate and perceived exertion were monitored to ensure moderate-intensity exercise.
ControlBehavioural
Participants completed a time-matched session consisting of a 10-minute professional communication micro-module (etiquette, active listening, teamwork; no obesity-related content) followed by approximately 20 minutes of low-intensity stretching. The session was designed to control for instructor attention and time without exposure to exercise or obesity simulation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Active comparator | Participants completed a time-matched session consisting of a 10-minute professional communication micro-module (etiquette, active listening, teamwork; no obesity-related content) followed by approximately 20 minutes of low-intensity stretching. The session was designed to control for instructor attention and time without exposure to exercise or obesity simulation. Receives: Behavioral: Control |
| Exercise-only | Active comparator | Participants completed a 30-minute treadmill walking session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 mph, 0% grade), 20-minute walk (2.5 mph, 6% grade), and 5-minute cool-down. Heart rate and perceived exertion were monitored to ensure moderate-intensity exercise. Receives: Behavioral: Exercise-only |
| Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit | Experimental | Participants completed the same 30-minute treadmill protocol as the exercise-only group while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit. The suit added approximately 20% of body mass to simulate increased body weight and movement constraints during exercise. Receives: Behavioral: Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Implicit Weight Bias
Implicit weight bias was assessed using the Weight Implicit Association Test (IAT). D-scores reflect the strength of automatic pro-thin/anti-fat associations. Higher positive scores indicate stronger implicit anti-fat bias. The primary outcome is the change in IAT D-score from baseline to 8-week follow-up.
Measured: Baseline, 1-week, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Explicit Weight Bias
Explicit weight bias was assessed using two validated self-report instruments:
Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire (AFA) (Crandall, 1994), which includes three subscales: Dislike (7 items; score range: 1-7); Fear of Fat (3 items; score range: 1-7); Willpower Attributions (3 items; score range: 1-7). Subscale scores are calculated as the mean of items within each domain. Higher scores indicate stronger negative attitudes toward individuals with obesity.
Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form (FPS-SF) (Bacon et al., 2001) is a 14-item semantic differential scale. Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating stronger endorsement of negative obesity-related stereotypes.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Clinical Decision-Making Quality
Clinical reasoning will be assessed using structured weight-related patient vignettes developed for health professions education contexts. For each vignette, participants rate agreement with patient-centered and stigmatizing response options on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree). A composite score is calculated as: Mean patient-centered rating minus mean stigmatizing rating.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Reflective Learning Quality
Structured written reflections will be evaluated using a rubric based on transformative learning theory, assessing four dimensions: Disorienting Dilemma Recognition; Critical Reflection; Perspective Transformation; Integration Planning.
Each dimension is scored from 0 to 3. The composite score (sum of four domains) ranges from 0 to 12.
Measured: 1 week post-intervention only
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2024
- Primary completion1 Feb 2026
- Study completion1 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Weight BiasStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 107 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gregory Ruegsegger, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
- Investigators
- Gregory Ruegsegger, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, River Falls
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07430891
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024-135
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available due to confidentiality considerations and institutional review board restrictions. De-identified data may be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, subject to institutional approval and data use agreements.
Publications
Ruegsegger GN, Lopez RL, Bates JJ. Exercise-based obesity simulation reduces weight bias and improves clinical decision-making in health professions students: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med Educ. 2026 May 13;26(1):1081. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09423-0.
PubMed 42129803
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Exercise-Based Obesity Simulation on Weight Bias and Clinical Decision-Making in Health Professions Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07430891
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024-135
- Conditions
- Weight Bias, Health Professions Education, Implicit Bias
- Keywords
- obesity simulation, weight stigma, experiential learning, simulation-based education, medical education
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 107 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, River FallsUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of an exercise-based obesity simulation on weight bias and professional competencies among undergraduate health professions students.
Participants (N = 107) were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three conditions: (1) control (professional communication module and low-intensity stretching), (2) moderate-intensity treadmill exercise without simulation, or (3) treadmill exercise while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit representing approximately 20% additional body mass. The intervention consisted of a single 30-minute session.
Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 8-week follow-up. The primary outcome was change in implicit weight bias measured using the Weight Implicit Association Test. Secondary outcomes included explicit weight bias (Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire; Fat Phobia Scale), empathy (Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Health Professions Student version), clinical decision-making using structured patient vignettes, behavioral intentions toward future patients, and structured reflective learning.
Physiological and perceptual responses during the intervention (heart rate, perceived exertion, discomfort, and affective valence) were also recorded to examine associations between experiential intensity and learning outcomes.
The study aims to evaluate whether a brief experiential educational intervention can reduce weight bias and improve empathy and clinical reasoning relevant to weight-inclusive care.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: ControlParticipants completed a time-matched session consisting of a 10-minute professional communication micro-module (etiquette, active listening, teamwork; no obesity-related content) followed by approximately 20 minutes of low-intensity stretching. The session was designed to control for instructor attention and time without exposure to exercise or obesity simulation. |
| Exercise-only | Active comparator | Behavioral: Exercise-onlyParticipants completed a 30-minute treadmill walking session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 mph, 0% grade), 20-minute walk (2.5 mph, 6% grade), and 5-minute cool-down. Heart rate and perceived exertion were monitored to ensure moderate-intensity exercise. |
| Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit | Experimental | Behavioral: Exercise with Obesity Simulation SuitParticipants completed the same 30-minute treadmill protocol as the exercise-only group while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit. The suit added approximately 20% of body mass to simulate increased body weight and movement constraints during exercise. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise with Obesity Simulation SuitParticipants completed the same 30-minute treadmill protocol as the exercise-only group while wearing an adjustable obesity simulation suit. The suit added approximately 20% of body mass to simulate increased body weight and movement constraints during exercise. | Behavioural | Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit |
| Exercise-onlyParticipants completed a 30-minute treadmill walking session consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (2.5 mph, 0% grade), 20-minute walk (2.5 mph, 6% grade), and 5-minute cool-down. Heart rate and perceived exertion were monitored to ensure moderate-intensity exercise. | Behavioural | Exercise-only |
| ControlParticipants completed a time-matched session consisting of a 10-minute professional communication micro-module (etiquette, active listening, teamwork; no obesity-related content) followed by approximately 20 minutes of low-intensity stretching. The session was designed to control for instructor attention and time without exposure to exercise or obesity simulation. | Behavioural | Control |
Primary outcome
Change in Implicit Weight Bias
Time frame: Baseline, 1-week, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Implicit weight bias was assessed using the Weight Implicit Association Test (IAT). D-scores reflect the strength of automatic pro-thin/anti-fat associations. Higher positive scores indicate stronger implicit anti-fat bias. The primary outcome is the change in IAT D-score from baseline to 8-week follow-up.
3 secondary outcomes
Explicit Weight Bias
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Clinical Decision-Making Quality
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, and 8 weeks post-intervention
Reflective Learning Quality
Time frame: 1 week post-intervention only
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42129803Ruegsegger GN, Lopez RL, Bates JJ. Exercise-based obesity simulation reduces weight bias and improves clinical decision-making in health professions students: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med Educ. 2026 May 13;26(1):1081. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09423-0.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be made publicly available due to confidentiality considerations and institutional review board restrictions. De-identified data may be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, subject to institutional approval and data use agreements.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Gregory Ruegsegger principal investigator
University of Wisconsin, River Falls
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise with Obesity Simulation Suit and Exercise-only in people with Weight Bias and Health Professions Education, run by University of Wisconsin, River Falls at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Implicit Weight Bias (time frame: Baseline, 1-week, and 8 weeks post-intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07430891, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Feb 2026.