The Role of Parents in Adolescent Weight Loss

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to determine whether a novel model of including parents in adolescent weight control results in greater decrease in adolescent z-BMI compared to an intervention with minimal parent involvement.

Official Title
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Parental Involvement as a Strategy to Enhance Adolescent Weight Control

Conditions
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Adolescent Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Control with Enhanced Parent Involvement
* Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Control with Minimal Parent Involvement


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Between 30 and 90% overweight Parent or guardian willing to participate Exclusion Criteria: Major psychiatric disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Behavioral Weight Control with Enhanced Parent Involvement<br>This treatment arm included periodic dyadic sessions with adolescents and their parents, focusing on weight-related communication combined with standard behavioral weight control. | Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Control with Enhanced Parent Involvement<br> <br> |
| Placebo Comparator: Behavioral Weight Control with Minimal Parent Involvement<br>This treatment arm included standard behavioral weight control delivered to the adolescent with minimal parent involvement. | Behavioral: Behavioral Weight Control with Minimal Parent Involvement<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Body Mass Index | Post-treatment BMI (controlling for baseline BMI) | Baseline and at completion of 16 week intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parent Modeling 1: Dietary Choices (WCSS) | Post-treatment value (controlling for baseline). Parent modeling of dietary choices was assessed using the Diet Choices subscale of the Weight Control Strategies Scale (WCSS), a parent-report measure of his/her own healthy weight control practices. The Dietary choices subscale of the WCSS has a scale range of 0 - 4, with higher scores corresponding to healthier diet choices. Higher scores are considered to be a better treatment outcome. | Baseline to post-treatment | 
| Parent Modeling 2: Self-monitoring (WCSS) | Post-treatment value (controlling for baseline). Parent modeling of self-monitoring behavior was assessed using the Self Monitoring subscale of the Weight Control Strategies Scale (WCSS), a parent-report measure of his/her own healthy weight control practices. The Self Monitoring subscale of the WCSS has a scale range of 0 - 4, with higher scores corresponding to more self-monitoring behavior. Higher scores are thought to reflect a better treatment outcome. | Baseline to post-treatment | 
| Parent Modeling 3: Physical Activity (WCSS) | Post-treatment value (controlling for baseline). Parent modeling of Physical Activity was assessed using the Physical Activity subscale of the Weight Control Strategies Scale (WCSS), a parent-report measure of his/her own healthy weight control practices. The Physical Activity subscale of the WCSS has a scale range of 0-4, with higher scores corresponding to greater physical activity. Higher scores are considered a better treatment outcome. | Baseline to post-treatment | 
| Parent Modeling 4: Weight and Body Concerns (FERF-Q) | Post-treatment value (controlling for baseline). Parent modeling of concern about weight/body was assessed using the Parent Modeling of Weight and Body Concerns subscale of the Family Experiences Related to Food Questionnaire (FERF-Q)), an adolescent-report measure of parent behavior pertaining to weight control. The Weight and Body Concerns subscale of the FERF-Q has a scale range of 1 - 5, with higher scores corresponding to greater parent weight and body concerns, as perceived and reported by the adolescent. Lower weight and body concern is considered a better treatment outcome. | Baseline to post-treatment | 
| Communication 1: Negative Maternal Weight-related Commentary (FERF-Q) | Post-treatment value (controlling for baseline). Negative maternal weight-related commentary was assessed using the Negative maternal weight-related commentary subscale of the Family Experiences Related to Food Questionnaire (FERF-Q)), an adolescent-report measure of parent behavior pertaining to weight control. The Negative maternal weight-related commentary subscale of the FERF-Q has a scale range of 1 - 5, with higher scores corresponding to greater negative maternal weight-related commentary, as perceived and reported by the adolescent. Lower scores are considered a better treatment outcome. | Baseline to post-treatment | 
| Communication 2: Observed Parent-adolescent Communication Quality (DOCS) | Post-treatment value (controlling for baseline). Observed parent-adolescent communication quality was measured using the Dyadic Observed Communication Scale (DOCS) used to code communication between adolescent and caregiver during a video-taped observational coding session. The DOCS is coded on a scale of 0 -10, with higher scores reflecting higher quality of communication, as observed by an independent rater. Higher scores are thought to reflect a better treatment outcome. | Baseline to post-treatment |