Parent-Based Treatment for Pediatric Overweight

Rates of pediatric overweight (PO) among Americans are increasing and associated with
significant psychological, social, quality of life, and health related outcomes. Because of
the broad mental and physical health implications of PO and the difficulty in sustaining
weight loss as an adult, it is of interest to find successful methods of weight loss and/or
prevention of weight gain for obese children and adolescents. The family unit is a logical
and empirically supported point of intervention for PO. Interventions on this level have
shown good long term efficacy in young children, but there is very little research on
adolescent family intervention. Within the eating disorder literature, there is growing
support for the efficacy of family-based interventions (FBI) for adolescents. Given its
trans-developmental applicability, focus on family as the unit of intervention, and utility
in creating a healthy eating environment, FBI is a logical candidate for adaptation to
intervention for PO and intervention for at-risk for overweight youth (FBI-PO). The core of
the current project is to test the feasibility and efficacy of an adapted FBI manual for
adolescent overweight and at-risk for overweight in an outpatient eating and weight
disorders clinic and compare this modality to a minimal nutritional educational control
(NEC) condition.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Ages 13-17

- Male and female

- Living with at least one parent or guardian who is willing to participate in
treatment

- A BMI percentile >85% for gender and age (e.g., overweight or at risk for overweight)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Current psychotic illness

- Current alcohol/drug dependence

- Active suicidality

- Eating disorders (e.g., binge eating disorder)

- History of bariatric surgery

- Medication associated with significant weight changes (e.g., antipsychotics)

- Serious medical or physical conditions resulting in significant weight changes (e.g.,
pregnancy, genetic disorders).

- Complications of obesity that contraindicate moderate physical activity (e.g.
orthopedic disorders)