Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Addressing Overweight and Obesity Among Qatari Youth
Condition: Obesity
MeSH terms: Obesity; Overweight
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Levels of overweight and obesity have reached alarming proportions in Qatar and other Gulf
      nations. In Qatar, the need to establish national strategies for the prevention and treatment
      of obesity has been recognized in the new Qatar National Health Strategy 2011-2016, which
      stresses the need for prevention. In fact, the Qatar National Nutrition and Physical Activity
      Action Plan 2011-2016 calls for nutrition and physical activity interventions for the
      prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases such as diabetes. The treatment and
      prevention of childhood obesity is largely through lifestyle changes- encouraging health
      eating and physical activity and discouraging sedentary behavior. However, changing such
      behaviors is complex and requires a combination of integrated approaches to tackle such a
      multifaceted problem. Herein, the investigators set out to implement and evaluate a novel
      weight management program for Qatari school children at the vulnerable age of 9-12 years. The
      project incorporates a cognitive-behavioral approach that involves developing social and
      emotional competences, promotion healthy dietary habits, development of physical literacy,
      and use of activity monitoring devices to promote increased activity while enlisting family
      involvement in an attempt to maintain weight loss in the long term. This project seeks to
      also take things further by integrating a range of interventions that use cutting edge
      insights from the behavioral sciences through the use of MINDSPACE approach (MINDSPACE:
      Messenger, Incentive, Norms, Default, Salience, Priming, Affect, Commitment, Ego) in
      conjunction with technology tools for monitoring activity and providing ongoing support
      through the use of social media. The intervention involves a multi-cohort intervention
      involving 500 Qatari children over 5 years to be conducted in three phases (1) intensive
      weight loss camps, (2) after-school clubs as supplement/consolidation, and (3) maintenance
      through web and social/family support.
    

Detailed description: 
      The specific objectives of the project are to:

        1. Adapt and pilot a school-based intervention that combines behavioral and cognitive
           approaches to promote healthy lifestyle among 9-12 year old children in select Qatari
           schools in the first year;

        2. Integrate behavioral economics and cognitive behavioral therapy (MINDSPACE) in a
           multi-cohort prevention/intervention study targeting at risk Qatari school children at
           the vulnerable age range of 9-12;

        3. Select and use technological tools for enhanced outcomes and adoption of the
           intervention nationally;

        4. Package study findings into a lifestyle change intervention for national implementation
           in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation and the Supreme Education Council.

      Data from this project could provide the basis for a national program to stem the rise of
      obesity in Qatar through lifestyle changes and reduce related health conditions.
    

Intervention name(s): Weight loss program for school children
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The intervention involves developing social and emotional competences, promotion of healthy lifestyle, use of activity monitoring devices to promote increased activity and enlisting family to maintain weight loss in the long term.
The intervention group receives all program components: 1. Parent information sessions and orientation, 2. Two week intensive weight loss and lifestyle education camp, 3. after school clubs for consolidation (including physical activity and lifestyle education), and 4. wearable sensors and social media modules with parental involvement. Assessed outcomes include pre- and post-measurement at each phase included: weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, physical activity, dietary intakes, self-esteem, and subjective well-being.
Other intervention name(s): Cognitive Behavioural and lifestyle
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Childhood obesity; Lifestyle; Prevention; Intervention; Behavioural psychology