Structured Psychoeducation for Unemployed Adolescents With Extreme Obesity in a Multicenter Observational Study Focusing on Feasibility

Summary

Obesity occurs more frequently in subjects of a lower socioeconomic status and is associated with a lower income and unemployment. On the other hand, there is limited access of individuals with low socioeconomic status to conventional obesity treatments and bariatric surgery.

In STEREOplus the investigators will ascertain unemployed adolescents with obesity and extreme obesity at five job centers in the Ruhr area. Unemployed obese youths and young adults (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2) between the ages of 14 and 24.9 years are eligible to participate. Participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires on their general health, psychosocial situation and wellbeing, and will be offered a thorough medical evaluation. Individuals who complete the baseline evaluations will be invited to participate in six group sessions of conventional obesity treatment over a three months period. After six months, participants will complete further questionnaires to evaluate the effects of the interventions on quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Weight status (BMI) will also be measured. Adolescents who attended at least five sessions and are interested in bariatric surgery will have access to a structured information and preparation program for bariatric surgery.

The overall objective of STEREOplus is to generate data on the feasibility of the planned implementation of a treatment targeted to a high risk group with a low socioeconomic background in order to reduce treatment barriers.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Extreme Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral standardized manual-based multidisciplinary routine care

Behavioral standardized manual-based multidisciplinary routine care (lifestyle intervention). Six sessions offered over the course of three to six months with a focus on weight loss. The topics 1) causes, consequences and treatment options of obesity, 2) nutrition, 3) eating behaviors and problem solving strategies, 4) self esteem and emotional eating, 5) exercise, and 6) use of media will be covered.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Center for Sepsis Control and Care, Germany

  collaborator OTHER

• Zentrum für klinische Studien Essen

  collaborator OTHER

• JobCenter Essen Mitte

  collaborator OTHER

• Jobcenter Bottrop

  collaborator OTHER

• Jobcenter Gelsenkirchen

  collaborator OTHER

• Jobcenter Oberhausen

  collaborator OTHER

• Jobcenter Mülheim an der Ruhr

  collaborator OTHER

• Universität Duisburg-Essen

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Ulm

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Johannes Hebebrand, Prof. Dr. med. · Universität Duisburg-Essen

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

24 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-05-28

Primary Completion

2017-12-04

Completion

2017-12-04

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations