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                                                                                   Participant Information Sheet 
                                                                          
                   Title of Study: Investigating body image of adults who have attended weight management programmes as children.  
 
We are inviting you to take part in a research study. Before you decide, it is important that you know why we are doing the study and what is involved. Please read the following information carefully. 
 
What is the purpose of the study? 
Body image is how we feel about our bodies, what we think of them, how we see them, and how we behave and treat them. The information gathered in this study will help us expand our knowledge of body image. 
The purpose of the study is to investigate the body image of adults who have previously attended weight management programmes as children. Body image of adults who have not attended such programmes will also be investigated, for comparison between the two. We are interested in the long-term effects of attending weight management programmes; how it impacts your relationship with your body, food, and eating.  
The study will be completed online.  
 
Am I eligible to take part? 
Participants can be of any gender, aged 16+, fluent in English. While we are particularly interested in those who have attended weight management services as children, the study is open to all. 
 
Do I have to take part? 
Participation is completely voluntary. You should only take part if you want to and choosing not to take part will not disadvantage you in anyway. Please note the sensitive topics covered and that you can withdraw at any point should you find the study upsetting, we provide details of support organisations below. 
 
What will I be asked to do? 
Firstly, in the next step, you will be asked to provide consent to take part in the study. We will ask some demographics (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and an additional question; ‘‘Have you attended a weight management programme as a child?’’. If the answer is yes, you will be asked the age you were when you attended, the duration of the programme and the name of the programme. There will also be an open question box, ‘‘Please give details of any other information you would like to share, e.g. if you have attended the programme more than once.’’ 
You will complete a number of validated questionnaires on your relationship with your body, movement and eating e.g. “Have you had a definite fear of losing control over eating?”.  
After this, you will be debriefed.
 
Will I be paid expenses for taking part? 
You will not be paid to participate in the study, however, if you signed up for the study via SONA, you will be eligible for 2 SONA points. 
 
What are the possible benefits / risks of taking part?  
By taking part in the study you are supporting the student researcher to complete a dissertation, you are also contributing to the growing body of knowledge about the effects of weight management programmes, body image and eating disorders.  
The topics covered in this study can be sensitive to some, the questions asked can be personal in nature and may cause some upset. You will also be asked to complete some questionnaires about your body image, eating habits and psychological well-being. Some questions can be upsetting, e.g. “Have you thought that you are in the shape you are because you lack self-control?” or “Have you imagined cutting off fleshy areas of your body?”.
The statements you will be asked to respond to do not, in any way, reflect the views of the researchers or the University of Lincoln. 
Your participation is voluntary and you can pause to take a break, and are free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason by simply closing the browser.  
Please note that the questionnaires you complete do not constitute diagnosis and we cannot share your scores with you, if you are concerned as a result of your participation, please consult your GP, we also provide details of support organisations below. 
Lastly, if you have history of, or currently have a diagnosis of an eating disorder or body dysmorphia, please exercise caution signing up for the study, as you may find its content triggering.  
Will anyone know I have taken part? 
The University of Lincoln (UoL) is the sponsor for this study based in the United Kingdom. We will be using information from you in order to undertake this study and will act as the data controller for this study. This means that we are responsible for looking after your information and using it properly. 
The research team will keep your name and contact details confidential and secure. The research team will use this information as needed, to contact you about the research study, and make sure that relevant information about the study is recorded for your care, and to oversee the quality of the study. Certain individuals from UoL may look at your research records to check the accuracy of the research study. The people who analyse the information will not be able to identify you and will not be able to find out your name or contact details. 
 
Where will my data be stored? 
The data obtained from the study will be stored securely on the university OneDrive in password-protected files. Only the researchers will have access. The data from this study may be put in an Open Access repository for other researchers to use in future research. If so, responses will be anonymised and any personal data (e.g. contact details) will be removed. 
What will happen if I don’t want to carry on with the study?  
You are free to withdraw at any point from this study, without having to give a reason, by letting the researcher know. If you choose to withdraw from the study, the information you have given us up to this point will be deleted/destroyed. However, once the anonymised data set has been created it will not be possible to remove your anonymised data from the analysis. 
What will happen to the results of the research study? 
The findings of the study will be presented as an undergraduate dissertation in Psychology (BSc), we may also publish the findings in a journal or present them at a conference. If you would like a copy of the final paper or a summary of the results, please contact the researcher after the publication of this study. The results will also be presented in the form of a poster as part of the dissertation process.  
 
Who is organising and funding the research? 
This research is being organised by Alice Hindstrom Shaw and Kamila Irvine at the University of Lincoln. 
Who has reviewed the study? 
All research conducted by the University of Lincoln is looked at by an independent group of people, called a Research Ethics Committee, to protect your rights, dignity and wellbeing. This study has been reviewed and given favourable opinion by a University of Lincoln Research Ethics Committee [ref 16732].  
 
What if there is a problem? 
If you have a concern or a complaint about any aspect of this study, you should ask to speak to the researchers who will do their best to answer your questions. The researchers' contact details are given at the end of this information sheet.  
If you remain unhappy and wish to complain formally, you can make a formal complaint through the University complaints procedure or by contacting ethics@lincoln.ac.uk.  
 
Information compliance  
The University of Lincoln is the lead organisation for this study and will be the data controller for this study. This means that we are responsible for looking after your information and using it properly.  
The university’s Research Participant Privacy Notice (https://ethics.lincoln.ac.uk/research-privacy-notice/) explains how we will be using information from you in order to undertake this study.  
If you feel that we have let you down in relation to your information rights then please contact the Information Compliance Team by email on compliance@lincoln.ac.uk or by post at Information Compliance, Secretariat, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS. 
You can also make complaints directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is the independent authority upholding information rights for the UK. Their website is ico.org.uk and their telephone helpline number is 0303 123 1113. 
Contact Details of Researcher(s) 
Dr Kamila Irvine, Senior Lecturer in Body Image and Eating Disorders, University of Lincoln: kirvine@lincoln.ac.uk 
Alice Hindstrom Shaw, 3rd Year Psychology with Mental Health Student: 27836004@students.lincoln.ac.uk 
Further help and support  
BEAT – UK’s leading Eating Disorders charity: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ 
The Mix – mental health support for under 25’s – www. themix.org.uk 
MIND – mental health charity – www.mind.org.uk 
University of Lincoln Wellbeing Centre, Tel: 01522 886400 studentwellbeing@lincoln.ac.uk 
RED CAN UK – Alliance of Eating Disorder Charities https://www.redcan.org.uk/ 
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH 
Title of the Project: Investigating body image of adults who have attended weight management programmes as children.   
Name of Researcher(s): Alice Hindstrom Shaw / Kamila Irvine 


1. I confirm that I have read the information sheet dated 11.12.2023 (version2) for the above study. I have had the opportunity to consider the information, ask questions and have had these answered satisfactorily. 
2. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason, without being disadvantaged in any way.
3. I understand that should I withdraw then the information I have given us up to this point will be deleted/destroyed. However, once the anonymised data set has been created it will not be possible to remove my anonymised data from the analysis. 
4. I understand that individuals from the University of Lincoln may look at research data collected during the study, to ensure that the study is conducted appropriately. I give permission for these individuals to have access to my research data. 
5. I understand that the information collected about me will be used to support other research in the future and may be shared anonymously with other researchers.  
6. I understand that the study considers sensitive topics as outlined in the Participant Information Sheet.

I agree to take part in the above study. 
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH Title of the Project: Investigating body image of adults who have attended weight management programmes as children.   Name of Researcher(s): Alice Hindstrom Shaw / Kamila Irvine 1. I confirm that I have read the information sheet dated 11.12.2023 (version2) for the above study. I have had the opportunity to consider the information, ask questions and have had these answered satisfactorily. 2. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason, without being disadvantaged in any way. 3. I understand that should I withdraw then the information I have given us up to this point will be deleted/destroyed. However, once the anonymised data set has been created it will not be possible to remove my anonymised data from the analysis. 4. I understand that individuals from the University of Lincoln may look at research data collected during the study, to ensure that the study is conducted appropriately. I give permission for these individuals to have access to my research data. 5. I understand that the information collected about me will be used to support other research in the future and may be shared anonymously with other researchers.  6. I understand that the study considers sensitive topics as outlined in the Participant Information Sheet.I agree to take part in the above study. 
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