The objective of this proposed study is to collect initial efficacy data on a behavioral weight loss (BWL) program for teens, which also includes emotion regulation strategies (ER), to standard BWL.
The study will compare the efficacy of BWL + ER and BWL. Investigators will provide 6 months of treatment (BWL + ER or BWL) and will follow participants at 12-months post-treatment (total time = 18 months). Investigators will recruit adolescents with overweight and obesity and their parents. Dyads will be assessed at 5 timepoints: baseline (2 visits), mid-treatment (1 visit), post-treatment (2 visits), 6-month follow-up (2 visits), and 12-month follow-up (2 visits). Assessments will include the following for the adolescent and parent: anthropometry, emotion regulation, emotional inhibition, emotional eating, and adolescent-parent relationship measures. This program of research has the potential to advance the standard of practice for adolescents who are overweight or obese by providing alternative interventions. We are currently offering online treatment groups to accommodate the CDC health and safety guidelines.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
332
The BWL + ER program will teach Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills (dialectical abstinence, emotion regulation skills, mindfulness, and distress tolerance) to the adolescent and parent group sessions. Parents are expected to model skill usage and DBT language with their teen to reinforce the skills at home. Adolescents and parents will track emotions and DBT skills used in diary cards which will be provided. Emotion-Focused Parent Training (EFPT) will be provided to the parents at each session to train the parent to support the adolescent in processing emotions, increasing parental emotion self-efficacy, promoting positive parent-adolescent relationships, and reducing the need for dysfunctional emotion regulation behaviors.Behavior coaching will be provided to the adolescent and parent to encourage compliance and review skills after each session (DBT or BWL).
All participants will be instructed to consume an energy restricted diet based on initial body weight. Participants will be instructed to record and self-monitor their food intake. The physical activity component will focus on increasing both lifestyle activity and structured exercise programs. Behavior change recommendations will include: self-monitoring, goal setting, managing high-risk situations, and relapse prevention. Parenting skills will be discussed during parent group sessions which will encourage parents to adopt authoritative parenting styles with regard to eating and exercise behaviors. Parents will also learn about behavioral modification principles, including modeling, reinforcement, and operant conditioning. Behavior coaching will be provided to the adolescent and parent after each session to encourage compliance, discuss completed homework, review habit books to praise efforts and give feedback for areas of improvement.
UCSD Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR)
La Jolla, California, United States
Ambulatory Research Center - University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Adolescent weight loss as measured by BMI, BMIz
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
Emotion Regulation Skills as measured by Ecological Momentary Assessment using State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule- Short form
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
Emotional Eating as measured by Emotional Eating Scale for children (EES-C)
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
Parent BMI as measured by height and weight
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
Parent emotion regulation measured by Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
Parent emotional eating as measured by Emotional Eating Scale (EES)
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
Parent-adolescent relationship as measured by using: Inventory of Parents and Peer Attachment and Parental bonding assessment
Time frame: Change from baseline to month 3, 6, 12, and 18.
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