Treatment of Overweight Adolescents

 The University of Chicago is conducting a study to evaluate two interventions for overweight adolescents: a family based intervention and nutritional education. The study will test if the interventions are effective for reducing weight or preventing weight gain in adolescents who are overweight or at-risk for being overweight. This research is being done because currently, there are no clear treatments for treating overweight in adolescents.

If you are eligible and you have agreed to participate, you will be assigned to receive one of two possible experimental interventions. This intervention assignment will be done randomly, in a way that is similar to flipping a coin. There is an equal chance of receiving either experimental intervention. Both interventions consist of 16 sessions over a period of 24 weeks. The family based intervention involves asking parents to work together to find ways to improve their child’s eating habits and physical activity.

The nutritional education condition treatment (NEC) involves receiving a nutrition and physical activity education curriculum. Parents and their adolescents both receive information regarding food and exercise choices.

In-person assessment appointments will occur at four times: pre-intervention, end of intervention, at six months following the end of intervention, and at 12 months following the end of intervention. Information gathered from you and your adolescent will include your adolescents’ weight and height, interviews, and questionnaires to assess eating disorder symptoms and general psychiatric status. Medical clearance for your adolescent will be required from a pediatrician or adolescent medicine specialist to ensure that s/he is medically stable and fit enough to participate in the intervention to which s/he is assigned. The pediatrician/adolescent medicine specialist will also determine a frequency of ongoing medical management visits. Cost for visiting the pediatrician/adolescent medicine specialist and obtaining clearance will be assumed by you.

Inclusion criteria include:

• Ages 13 to 17
• Male or female
• Living with at least one parent or guardian who is willing to participate in treatment
• A BMI percentile between 85 percent and 99.5 percent for gender and age (e.g., overweight or at risk for becoming overweight)

Exclusion criteria include:

• 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)

Study Director: Daniel le Grange, PhD
Department: Psychiatry

For more information, contact:
Kali Ludwig
(773) 702-0789
kludwig@bsd.uchicago.edu
http://eatingdisorders.uchicago.edu

IRB: #16320B